TWO large cranes have been erected as work gets under way on a £60m building scheme for a York college campus.

The 37-metre and 28-metre cranes will be used in the construction of York College's Sim Balk Lane campus.

Work, which is being carried out by Balfour Beatty Construction Ltd, has begun on the building's huge concrete structure, and an all-weather pitch is to be completed by the end of the month.

Students are located at the Tadcaster Road site, which has had £1m spent on it, so it can accommodate all of them during the two-year construction period.

The new college building will be financed in part by the sale of the Tadcaster Road site, which will be used for housing.

The Learning and Skills Council has given a major grant for the building, and the college is also giving significant funding.

College principal Mike Galloway said he was pleased with the way the building was progressing.

He said: "The new college will provide a massive boost to further and higher education in York and North Yorkshire, and we are looking forward to opening the doors to our learners in 2007."

Balfour Beatty construction director Kevin Donegan said: "We are delighted to be working with York College to provide a greatly-enhanced education environment through the design and construction of modern buildings and facilities.

"We look forward to delivering the facility to the staff and students in autumn 2007."