A FURTHER step towards building a new £12m school in East Cleveland has been taken.

Councillors have agreed in principle that a new Freebrough Community College should be constructed at Skelton, and not Brotton or Loftus.

However, members of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's executive committee, agreed on Tuesday that there should be further discussions with the school committee and other interested parties before a final decision is made.

At present Freebrough College is located on three sites at Loftus, Skelton and Brotton, but dwindling pupil numbers mean that the school must locate to one site in order to attract new investment.

Transport to the new school is a major issue and was discussed at the meeting at Eston Town Hall.

Ian Jeffery, lead councillor for education, said: "The governors have brought the issue up many times. As I told the council meeting we need to provide good transport and make sure there are safe routes to school available where free transport will not be available."

It is anticipated that developers Amey would pay the bulk of the building costs and the tax-payer would pay interest charges in a 25-year deal.