WORK to repair a school which had part of its roof ripped off in a storm more than a year ago will start this month as part of a multi-million pound transformation plan.

Rumworth School in Ladybridge had one of its buildings damaged after a gust of wind blew off the roof during the 2016 Easter holidays which put an area of the school out of bounds.

But repair work was held off as plans to extend and revamp the school were drawn up, with pupils educated elsewhere in the school.

Sixth-form students were relocated to a former nursery school building.

The roof repairs and remodelling of the damaged building will cost £670,000 — and the extension and modernisation will cost £4.45million.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "The repairs to the damaged building from the high winds were not undertaken immediately because this part of the existing building is integral to the proposed expansion and remodelling scheme.

"If we had have undertaken the repairs earlier, we would then have had to undertake further works —at further inconvenience and further expense — to undo some of this work and create the required teaching spaces for the proposed extension.

"Work is due to start on August 21and due to be completed by July, 2018."

He added: "The majority of pupils will remain on site. Sixth form students have been temporarily relocated to the former Susan Isaacs building, and a small group of pupils will continue to be taught off site at Horwich Youth Centre in Fox Street."

The length time is said to be down to drawing up a design and ensuring value for money.

In a video to mark a year since the roof blew off, the school states: "With a lot of hard work the has has adjusted and we have had lots to celebrate over the last 12 months."

The school is being extended due to its popularity. Eleven new classrooms will be created and the school will have, for the first time, its own hall and dining facilities.

In addition, the pupil drop-off and pick-up areas will be relocated within the school site instead of being situated on the public highway.

It is one of three Bolton schools for pupils with special educational needs which are to benefit from major expansion plans.