THE development of a £10 million pound school was officially marked with the burial of a time capsule.

Eden Boys' School in Bolton invited pupils and developers to take part in the special ceremony on the construction site.

The school has been opened by Tauheedul Education Trust and funded through the government’s flagship free school programme.

It opened in September 2014 as a secondary school as a response to "very strong demand" for a faith-based Muslim boys’ schools.

There are currently 101 students in year seven and 54 students in year eight and 11 teachers. There are more than 200 applications for its 100 places for September 2015.

The time capsule contains information put on a USB memory stick as well as other artefacts including a copy of The Bolton News so that people in 100 years from now will know what life was like in 2015 and know was happening in Bolton in 2015.

The school is currently in temporary accommodation on Cotton Street.

In January 2016 it will open in a new building in Wolfenden Street at the site of the former Wolfenden Primary School.

Eden Boys’ has two specialisms — STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and the big society which includes community service, charity, volunteering, citizenship.

Students have already raised money for various local and national charities and campaigns.

The school also runs its own foodbank and has also supported a harvest festival organised through the local church.

In preparation for the ceremony the school ran an art competition to design posters on the theme of "uniting communities through education".

The winning posters will be enlarged and displayed on the hoardings while the school is being built.

The three winners, pupils Amaan Khan, Abdul-Hakim Atcha and Aakil Mohmed, each received a Kindle Fire donated by Wates, the company which is building the school.

Amaan said: "I can’t wait for the new school to be finished so we can move in."

Dr Salim Natha, chair of governors, said: "This is a special day for us and I’m delighted that we have the Mayor and Mayoress here representing the whole Bolton family.

"We want our school to help to bring our communities together through education.

"This will be a fantastic facility for the whole community. I hope people will look back in 100 years and think something special was started here on April 29 2015."

Gavin Davies representing Wates added: "We’re delighted to be given the chance to build the new school and be part of this school’s history."