A POPULAR school looked to the future as it celebrated a milestone in its development to provide more young people with a first class education.

Turton School in Bromley Cross is undergoing a multi-million extension and modernisation work.

Work started at January and just before the Easter break, the school staged a 'bolt tightening' ceremony to mark the installation of the steel frame of the dining room.

The landmark moment was celebrated by students, staff and governors as well as representatives from Kier, the construction company behind the new build.

A spokesman for Kier said: "It was apt to celebrate meeting this landmark, after the challenges the weather has presented since January, and it now gives the school students and staff the opportunity to visualize more clearly the building plans.

"The building work was commissioned due to an increasing roll number at Turton School and, as well as this new built kitchen and dining room, the summer term and holidays will see internal areas of the school refurbished to create a new library, computer rooms, science lab, classrooms and a special needs area. "

All the work is scheduled to be completed by September.

And thanks to the 'extensive pre-design' work between the construction company, the school and Bolton Council, the challenge of running a building site on school grounds is said to have very little impact on the day to day running of the school.

The students have also benefited from site tours, career talks and work experience opportunities are planned to allow an insight into the construction industry.

The school in Bromley Cross took on an additional 30 pupils in year seven this September.

Turton High School has been chosen to increase the numbers of places available because it is popular and often over-subscribed.