A EUROPEAN architectural award has been granted to a £2.5million Blackburn high school campus.

A panel of judges from the Civic Trust Awards found that Witton Park’s woodland campus was one of the finest buildings in the north west.

The Civic Trust searches out high-quality buildings across Europe which must also serve the community in some way.

Just five other awards were granted by the not-for-profit group in the north west this year: Trafford Town Hall, The Queen Elizabeth School sixth form in South Lakeland, Marine Hall Gardens in Wyre, Number One Riverside council base in Rochdale and Stamford Park Pavilion in Tameside.

The school will now be able to feature a new ‘Civic Trust Awards’ plaque, as can be seen at the Severn Bridge and London’s Olympic Village.

Judges were impressed by Witton Park’s use of woodland and views from within the school.

Headteacher Dean Logan said they were delighted with the honour.

He said: “When we came to build the school, it was a tough challenge because there were so many protected trees on the site.

“Because the architects Studio E had taken this into account and worked around it, the effect is incredible. The school is built in an L-shape around an old sycamore at the front of the building.

“We are now looking forward to mounting the Civic Trust Award plaque at the front of the building as soon as we can.”

The project to build the school within Witton Country park on greenbelt land was completed in 2012 as part of Blackburn’s Building Schools for the Future.

The new building is complete with outdoor classrooms, multi-use games areas, astroturf, outdoor gardens and orchards.

Studio E has designed schools and public buildings across the country and have been nominated for numerous awards.