SWINDON Mayor Stan Pajak has revisited his old school to see it on the way to an entirely different future.

He chipped away the very first brick on a small wall to the rear of the former Gilbert's Hill School to help with the start of a major scheme to convert the landmark Victorian building into flats.

The Mayor began the work under the watchful eye of Swindon Council's principal valuer, Tony Bamford and Peter Mapson, of developer Bower Mapson.

Over the next seven months, the Dixon Street building, which closed as a school two years ago, will be transformed into 10 apartments of varying sizes and prices.

Coun Pajak, who also represents the Eastcott ward in which the school is located, said: "I am delighted that this wonderful building has been saved and will, by its restoration, lift this area of the borough.

"It will be very different from when I was last here. I remember there was a sloping playground and I ran down it into a wall injuring myself. It has also been a polling station and I have won some local elections here."