WORK has started on a £5.8m school near Chester city centre.

Teachers, pupils and governors, including former city MP Christine Russell, have supported the creation of the Chester Blue Coat Primary School.

The Church of England-aided primary school was officially opened last September following the merger of Victoria Infant School in Cheyney Road and St Thomas of Canterbury Junior School in Walpole Street.

The Garden Quarter school continues to operate on both sites and a new two-storey school with room for 420 pupils in 14 classes is now being built by Tameside-based Bardsley Construction workers on the junior school playing field.

A completion date for the new school has been set for February 2013 and once the building is completed a new playing field and two multi-use games areas (MUGAs) will be created on the site of the existing junior school. Nursery facilities will continue to operate from Cheyney Road.

The school, which currently has 380 pupils, already has close links with the University of Chester for use of athletics and swimming facilities.

There are plans for greater co-operation between the school and university while building work progresses.

Principal architect for the scheme is Sarah Pegg, of Tweed, Nuttall and Warburton, based in City Road, Chester.

Mrs Russell, who has been connected with the school for more than 30 years, said: “It is an exciting new beginning for the local community and in particular for the Garden Quarter and Newtown areas of the city.

“We are grateful to the university for allowing us to make use of outdoor facilities while the building work is taking place.”