BUILDING work today started on two new schools for Burnley and Pendle.

The project got under way as thousands of pupils in the boroughs prepared to return to their newly-named schools on Monday.

County Coun Alan Whittaker, Lancashire's education boss, headteachers and other dignitaries were today marking the start of the work to construct the Burnley Schools' Sixth Form, in Barden Lane, Burnley, and the Pendle Vale College in Oxford Road, Nelson, with a special ceremony.

The Building Schools for the Future programme will eventually see eight new schools built by 2010.

But when the new term starts next week, pupils will attend newly-named schools at either the old school sites or temporary buildings while the new colleges are completed.

Councillor Whittaker said: "It is very pleasing that everything connected with these massive projects is running on time.

"It is a great honour to be present at the start of a new era for communities in Burnley and Pendle."

Meanwhile staff and pupils are preparing for their new starts.

Blessed Trinity RC College, which will operate from Ormerod Road and Coal Clough Lane, is made up of St. Theodore's and St. Hilda's RC High Schools.

Headteacher, Bernadette Bleasdale, said: "We really are looking forward to welcoming the pupils back to school and we are very excited about joining together the two Catholic communities in the area.

"We will endeavour to do our very best for the Catholic people in Burnley, along with our partner colleges, because the spirit of this enterprise is one very much of co-operation."