A PRIMARY school is set to be given a face-lift costing more than half-a-million pounds.

Staff and pupils at Tonge Moor County Primary have been told of plans to revamp the building over the next year.

The proposal forms part of a bid to regenerate the Tonge Moor area around De Lacy Drive -- where the homes will soon be pulled down to make way for major new developments.

Among the plans are a new entrance for the Stott Lane school, separating pupils from staff and visitor cars.

Toilets will also be torn out and replaced and classrooms will be redecorated.

Plans to redevelop the De Lacy Drive area will also mean significant improvements outside the main buildings with the replacement and upgrading of the school playing fields.

The school was awarded the money after education and school chiefs put together a bid for Government funding.

The area has been hit by crime in recent years and councillors were looking at a way of turning the estate around.

Homes on De Lacy Drive will be replaced with new housing in a bid to start afresh.

Cllr Linda Thomas, Bolton Council executive member for education said the makeover would enhance the improvements for the Tonge Moor area.

She said: "We are delighted that this project is to start shortly.

"It will make a huge difference to the school and the surrounding area.

"It's a package that includes a mix of urgently-needed repairs, for which we have been trying to find the money for some time, and a substantial number of improvements to help raise standards.

"The project has been a school-departmental partnership scheme from day one and the team members have spent a lot of time looking at different schemes to maximise the benefit from the grant."

Work at the school is due to start in July and should be completed around February next year.