AN £8million sixth-form centre intended to be "the pride of Hyndburn" is unlikely to become reality until 2010.

St Christopher's CE High School, Accrington, last year announced its intention to create the sixth form to address a lack of A-level provision in the borough.

It said it wanted to provide "teaching and pupil facilities for the 21st century".

It had been hoped the college, which would create up to 40 jobs and include a drama studio, library, small gym, common room and nursery provision, could open as early as 2008.

But headteacher Alasdair Coates has now said that as the school is scheduled for re-designation as a high performing specialist school in 2008, Department of Education and Skills rules mean it must wait until then to apply for government cash to fund the project.

Building work would begin only when money was secured, meaning 2010 was now a more realistic opening date.

However Mr Coates stressed the school was already turning its thoughts to planning permission to ensure it is ready to proceed once the money is in the bank.

"We can only apply for funding in 2008 so won't be able to start the building work until then," he explained.

"I think the earliest date for opening will be 2009 but it is more likely it will be the year after. But we are making sure that once we do get the green light there are no unnecessary delays. We will be submitting an outline planning application to Hyndburn Council in the next month." The college would be sited on adjacent land previously occupied by Moorhead High School.

And Mr Coates is confident planning applications will not meet with any hitches. Ten per cent of the funding has been secured from the Church of England and the rest will come from the government-run Learning and Skills Council.

Accrington schools Mount Carmel, Holl-ins Tech-nology College and Moorhead, Norden High School, Rishton, and Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School, Oswaldtwistle, all objected to the bid, insisting it could have a "destabilising and damaging effect" and lead to other colleges, such as St Mary's in Blackburn, not having enough A-level students to make some courses viable.

Lancashire County Council's education boss, Coun Alan Whittaker, was also urged by his own officers to object to the plans for the same reasons.