A SCHOOL which is in desperate need of investment will be rebuilt, it has been revealed.

Plans are being drawn up to develop a multi-million pound new building for Bolton Parish Church CE School.

Governors have been struggling for more than 10 years to maintain the school in a safe and habitable building.

The school found out in February of last year it had successfully bid for a slice of £2 billion of government funding.

It was one of just 277 schools across England to benefit under the Government's second phase of the building and refurbishing programme.

It is the only school in Bolton to have been earmarked for Government cash.

Cllr John Walsh, a foundation governor, said site options were now being considered for the new building, including the present site to see if it was suitable.

He said: "The school has had a lot of problems with the building which is not satisfactory in every sense of the word.

"Money has been going on repairing it instead of on education and now that money can be spent on education."

The school is now working with the Diocese and the Government's education funding agency and it is hoped the school will be built within the next two and half-years.

In 2004 the school, which has 246 children on roll, had to close suddenly when it was feared that subsidence could make the building unsafe and the whole school transferred to the former Longsight School base in Harwood until works had been completed.

The new build marks another exciting major turning point for the school, which is quickly transforming its fortunes.

Standards are on the up at the school which had been found by Ofsted to require improvement.

Staff have been drafted in from St Paul’s CE Primary in Astley Bridge, one of Bolton’s outstanding schools.