WORK has begun on Tyldesley's new church primary school.

As the demolition gang moved in to flatten the old Mission school hall, infants moved into a nearby warehouse!

By this time next year a new St George's Central CE Primary School will have been completed at the Darlington Street site.

In the meantime, loss of the old hall means pupils are currently using a former carpet saleroom store as a makeshift dining room, assembly hall and gym - all carpeted of course.

Stained glass windows were carefully removed before the hall demolition began. They will be restored and reinstalled in the new building.

School governors' chairman Alan Murgatroyd is urging locals to help raise the £23,000 which the parish must pay towards the cost of the new school.

In St George's parish magazine he says:"The Parish is not just the PCC or the Vicar.

"It is you and me and includes everyone who considers St George's Parish Church to be their church, whether they attend regularly, infrequently or at weddings, baptisms or funerals!

"Some progress has been made towards the total, but if you have not already contributed, or feel you can make a further contribution, it will be very much appreciated."

Vicar of Tyldesley, the Rev Ian McCalla, said donations should be sent to him at 203 Manchester Road, Tyldesley, M29 8WT, or chairman of governors Alan Murgatroyd at 201 Manchester Road, Tyldesley.

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