CHILDREN at Horfield CE Primary School in Bristol have celebrated the start of a major expansion project for their school by making Lego models of what the new building will look like.

The £2.3-million project will provide four new classrooms to replace temporary units, a new ICT suite, new library, workrooms for use by small groups of pupils and improved staff facilities.

Project development and construction company Skanska is liaising closely with the school to ensure that normal activity can continue during the redevelopment.

The project, due for completion by next September, includes refurbishing the 1950s building. It will also provide shelter for parents waiting to collect their children and landscaping of the school grounds.

The redevelopment is the latest project by the Bristol Local Education Partnership , in which Skanska and Bristol City Council are working together to build new primary and secondary schools and refurbish and extend existing schools across the city.

Alan Sutton, head of the 390-pupil school, said: "This is the culmination of many years of work by the governors and staff to ensure we have a building that's really fit for purpose.

"We are all very excited that construction work has now started."

Mike Carter, project manager for Skanska, said: "We have been involved with the school for nine months and it's great to see construction begin on a fantastic new building that will benefit (Bristol) pupils and staff for many years to come."