FOUR new primary schools have opened across East Lancashire this term and two more are nearing completion, Lancashire County Council has revealed as online applications for places in 2015 gather pace.

Education chief Matthew Tomlinson has also hailed work on two more major primary upgrades.

He said the county’s forward planning was paying off as 97 per cent of parents have so initially received an offer for a preferred primary in 2015.

New county schools include Barnoldswick CE Primary, Nelson Whitefield infants and nursery, Nelson St Paul's CE Primary and Buckshaw Village's Trinity CE/Methodist Primary.

Those nearing completion include Padiham St Leonard's CE Primary and Bacup Britannia Primary.

Work is continuing on extensions at Oswaldtwistle’s St Andrew's CE Primary and at Brierfield Reedley Primary.