HUNDREDS of pupils are to benefit from a multi-million pound makeover of primary schools and children's centres.

Education chiefs have unveiled the revamps as part a £14.8million refurbishment and rebuilding programme in school buildings and other facilities in Blackburn and Darwen this year and next.

The buildings are to get the refurbishment treatment from the council's capital purse and although exact details have not yet been released the projects include: l A new multi-use games area at St Michael with St John's CE Primary School, Blackburn.

l Replacement windows at Blackburn's Wensley Fold and Brookhouse primary schools and Shadsworth Junior School.

l Toilet refurbishments at Shadsworth Infant School.

l Improved access and facilities in schools for children with disabilities.

l Resurfacing play areas at Intack and Griffin Park primary schools, Blackburn.

l A new hall floor at St Thomas CE Primary School, Blackburn.

l A new roof at Audley Junior School, Blackburn.

The revamp in Blackburn with Darwen comes on top of a huge makeover for the borough's primary schools along with those in Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Rossendale, Burnley, Pendle, which are to be refurbished or rebuilt in line over 15 years as part of a national scheme to renovate schools.

And Coun Maureen Bateson, executive member for children's services, said the makeovers would help pupils meet their potential.

"The bulk of the money is being invested in the upgrading of our schools and this is part of our continuing programme of improvement.

"By maintaining and improving our facilities, we can achieve better quality teaching, learning and play environments for our children."

From 2009 Blackburn with Darwen Council is getting £5million a year to revamp half the borough's primary schools while Lancashire County Council is to get around £30million to do the same.

Lancashire County Council cabinet member for schools, Coun Alan Whittaker, said the cash would help "meet the needs of children, families and communities across Lancashire."

Following consultation with schools, the council is now drawing up a hit list' of outdated schools in need of transformation under the scheme.

The list will be put out to consultation later this year.

Coun Whittaker said: "Hopefully as many parents will be involved as possible. I always say when it comes to education at primary level it is very much like buttoning a waistcoat, if you start at the bottom you get it right."