THREE schools in North Trafford are set to benefit from £1.63 million of Government cash to repair deteriorating buildings.

Flixton High School for Girls and Wellacre High School in Flixton, along with Broadoak High School in Partington will receive the money as part of the New Deal for Schools (NDS) budget announced by Education Secretary David Blunkett this week.

Six Trafford schools in total will share the one and a half million pound grant to aid the upgrading of electrical wiring and fire alarms - as well as carry out structural repairs and improve health and safety.

The news has come as a massive boost for local education chiefs who expressed their delight at the announcement.

Chairman of Education, Cllr Andrea Jones told SUM: "This is marvellous news and the NDS money has come as a massive shot in the arm for us.

"The added funds will allow us to carry out the continuing upgrading of the borough's schools and we are committed to providing better facilities for our children."

The cash will be spent over the next three years.

Cllr Jones continued: "The management plan that we now have in place allows us to look at all our schools and prioritise those which need repair most.

"I feel a lot happier that we are able to obtain this money in such a short space of time as we strive towards rebuilding the borough's schools."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.