A NORTH Yorkshire school will be looking to a new era when work starts on a long-awaited extension next month.

As much as £650,000 will be spent on a new classroom block at Northallerton College - with students promised 21st Century facilities once the project is complete.

The building, due to be completed by September, will include eight modern classrooms, designed in consult- ation with college staff who have aimed to provide a "flexible and modern learning environment".

They will be used mainly to teach maths, but two other rooms - a science laboratory and a computer-multimedia suite - will also be refurbished.

The block, designed by local architects Michael Severs Associates, will be built at the north end of the college campus, almost opposite the Tesco store, and will replace two temporary classrooms almost as soon as it opens.

Cash to cover the cost comes partly from North Yorkshire County Council but with a substantial contribution from the college itself.

"Student numbers at the college have risen dramatically over the past few years," said vice-principal John Kelly.

"The block is designed to keep pace with the expansion of a thriving and successful college, which is bursting at the seams. We want to ensure it provides an exciting place to learn and study.

"Several people have work-ed hard on the planning and design. Now we want to carry out the work quickly and efficiently."

Next month's project is the second phase of a scheme which began last summer.

The college's resource centre was the first to be refurbished and expanded to provide an extra 60 work and study stations.

A reception area was also built, along with a new administration and staff area.

"The whole project is another step forward in our plan to create a progressive learning environment that measures up to our ambitions as a technology college and our aims for the community we serve," said principal Jennifer Slater.