THREE Leigh schools are being upgraded in a £3.8m New Deal for Schools building programme.

Higher Fold County Primary School is to be replaced with a new school. Bedford High will get a new replacement science block and Westleigh will be enlarged with a new single storey modern foreign languages and art building.

A delighted Lois Ward, head at Higher Fold CP, said : "A new school will enable us to provide a quality learning environment which, in turn, will assist us in the raising of standards and attainment."

And Director of Education Bob Clark said: "This new injection of money is very welcome. It will enable us to put in to effect our top three bids for new educational premises in the Westleigh Action Zone."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.