CRUMBLING school buildings in East Lancashire look set to have millions of pounds spent on them thanks to a government cash handout.

Lancashire County Council faces a huge backlog of work to repair and refurbish schools, social services buildings and libraries.

A report presented to councillors in October indicated that the bill for a five-year plan to complete the work would run to £77 million.

But now the council has been awarded more than £8 million to at least make a start on the work.

And a further £1.6 million will be spent on classrooms thanks to a grant from National Grid for Learning, a scheme set up by the government and electricity companies to provide more computers for schools.

County Councillor Hazel Harding, chairman of the education committee said: "The government is delivering its promises on education and this funding will help the council deliver the best in technology and facilities to the pupils of Lancashire.

"The go ahead for over £8 million of capital improvements to buildings will make schools and classrooms a better environment, a vital benefit to pupils and teachers.

"The further £1.6 million of funding which has been awarded will ensure that more schools are linked to the national grid for learning. I am determined that Lancashire children are at the forefront in the use of information technology."

Schools make up more than two thirds of the buildings in need of repair with social services the next in line for repairs in the council's portfolio of work.

Many of the buildings which need work were built in the 1960s and 1970s and have begun to show signs of wear and tear in recent years.

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