PUPILS can look forward to a brighter future with a £1 million cash boost to help rebuild crumbling schools.

The cash for repairs and improvements was announced by Education and Employment Secretary Mr David Blunkett on Tuesday, and immediately welcomed by local MP David Chaytor.

The local schools to benefit include:

East Ward County Primary and Affetside Primary, the replacement and extension of school premises

Unsworth County Primary and Tottington High for external structural repairs and health and safety improvements

Hazlehurst County Primary for internal structural repairs and health and safety improvements

St Paul's CE Primary, Holy Trinity CE Primary and Christ Church CE Primary, Walshaw, for the replacement of boilers and heating systems

Fairfield County Primary for window and glazing repairs

Bury & Whitefield Jewish Primary for access improvements.

The cash was part of a £61 million package to be split between 450 North West schools.

Mr Chaytor was delighted with the money, singling out East Ward CP which is the only primary in the borough which still operates from two sites.

Moving to one base is a crucial part of the East Ward Regeneration Project, allowing the old building to be demolished and redeveloped for housing.

"The money is an increase of 50 per cent more than last year, which is pretty good," he said. "This is another step forward in tackling the enormous backlog of repairs in local schools."

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