GOVERNMENT officials today revealed which schools in Blackburn and Darwen will receive a share of £810,000 for urgent repairs.

School standards minister Stephen Byers announced the borough would get the extra money last month.

County Hall was also handed £3.5 million to spend on crumbling schools across Lancashire.

The cash is part of £35 million which is being shared out between more than 600 schools in the North West as part of the Government's New Deal scheme.

Mr Byers said: "Raising standards in schools is at the heart of our education strategy, but crumbling schools make the task harder.

"That is why I am today announcing the extra money for schools in the region to ensure staff and pupils will have buildings fit to work and learn in."

Blackburn with Darwen education chairman Bill Taylor added: "This good news will help us reverse the years of neglect in our schools.

"At last we are heading in the right direction and I am confident we can look forward to more funding in future years."

Longshaw Junior School and Turncroft Nursery will get money to replace windows, Beardwood High will get the funds to replace toilets and resurface dangerous areas and Hawthorns County Junior is to get security fencing.

Pleckgate High will get funds for new walling and windows and new showers and St Thomas CE primary gets cash to repair perimeter fencing.

Other schools to benefit include Griffin Park Primary, St Peter's Junior, Longshaw Nursery, Intack Primary, St Stephen's CE Infant, St Anthony's RC Primary, Feniscowles Primary, Belmont Primary, Broadlands Nursery, Queen's Park High, Witton Park High, Dame Evelyn Fox Special School, St Thomas Primary, St Gabriel's CE, St Cuthbert's Primary, St Paul's RC Primary and St Michael and St John Primary.

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