BUILDING work on Blackburn's new Islamic boys high school is proceeding well.

These pictures show the framework of the academy for 800 pupils, part of the Tauheedul family, rising from the site in Sumner Street near the town centre.

Work started in March and now Cllr Mohammed Khan, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, hopes to see it open next year.

The building will provide a permanent home for top-performing Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School, which has been housed temporarily in the former Blakewater College in Shadsworth Road since opening in 2012.

Attracting students from across East Lancashire, Tauheedul bosses hope the site will become an ‘impressive gateway’ to the town.

A new 200-space sixth form will also open at the free school, rated third in the country for progress made by students in 2016.

Among the facilities will be a gym, sports hall, playground, sports pitches, outdoor cricket nets, car parking, and multi-use games area.

The site, formerly an abattoir and cattle market, has been largely vacant and semi-derelict for several years.

Cllr Khan, whose former Wensley Fold ward includes the site, said: "I am very pleased that the work is going ahead so well.

"It's excellent to see things progressing on a site that was idle for many years.

"The new school will be a great addition to the educational resources of the borough.

"The existing school provides and excellent education for its pupils.

"I hope that the new one will be open by the end of next year."

The Tauheedul Education Trust, whose Star Academies arm runs three schools in Blackburn and several more nationwide, said the new building would provide a ‘world class and inspired teaching and learning environment.’

The school will cater for 600 children aged from 11 to 16, the same as the current site, and will see the addition of a200 pupil sixth-form in September 2020.

In his Autumn Term newsletter, school principal Majid Ditta said: We are proposing visits to be made to the site over the coming weeks with the staff and the students. When we are in a position to do so, we will also take parent groups to visit the new site."

The developer is Manchester's Wates Construction.

There are also plans for warning roads signs and a pedestrian crossing near the junction of Harrison Street and Sumner Street.