PARENTS and pupils in Sherston are celebrating as work starts on their new school in Manor Close.

The new Sherston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is expected to open to pupils early next year.

The school has space for 180 children and boasts six modern classrooms, a large multi-purpose hall suitable for PE and school assemblies, and a state of the art information technology area.

Pupils will also benefit from extensive outdoor play facilities including grass sports pitches and a hard court for games.

The new school replaces a Victorian building and several mobile classrooms.

The development by Wiltshire County Council was funded through the sale of land in the village.

The land sale provided enough money to enable the council not only to buy a site suitable for the new school but also pay for its construction.

William Snow, county council cabinet member for education, said: "This will provide a wonderful new primary school that Sherston can be proud of, replacing a very old building and a number of mobile classrooms.

"The new school will provide a better environment for pupils and teachers and the most modern facilities.

"One of the key advantages over the old school is that everything will now be under one roof. Before, many pupils worked in mobile classrooms."