PLANS for a £6 million "state-of-the-art" new primary school in Hereford have got the go-ahead.

As revealed by the Hereford Times in March, the scheme will turn two crumbling city schools into a single shining example for the communities they serve.

The money - for which Herefordshire Council is bidding under a government scheme - would make the site-sharing infant and junior schools at Hunderton into one 630-pupil primary with an all-new child health and development centre attached.

There will also be scope for adult learning and community classes.

Herefordshire Council's cabinet backed the scheme when it met last Thursday. Members heard the council had to find 20 per cent of its estimated £6 million cost.

The outcome of the bid for Government funding will be known by September.

Should the bid fail, cash for the scheme could come out of the council's capital funding.

Councillor Chris Chappell welcomed the new school as "state-of-the-art".

The two schools currently on the site are more than 50 years old and suffer major technical faults, including "concrete cancer".

Facing a hefty repair and renovation bill for both, the council believes a new school is better value for money.