Contractors have started work on a new Carlisle secondary school.

After years of work to secure land and get plans just right, the contract to start work on the new Newman Catholic School was signed last week.

The original site of the school, on Lismore Place, is now in the process of being demolished.

Pupils and staff are currently operating from a temporary home in Harraby, after the school was devastated by Storm Desmond in 2015, leaving it submerged in 7ft of water. It had previously been flooded in 2005.

The new site, off Scalegate Road, is expected to take a year to build.

The school is having a bumper year, after Ofsted inspectors ruled it no longer required special measures having failed its 2017 inspection.

Having the new building will give staff the chance to create a stable base for the future and help give pupils a solid foundation moving forward.

Help for the new building was pledged from the Department for Education following a visit by the then-Education Secretary Nicky Morgan in January 2016.

Workmen from Galiford Try moved onto the site at the end of April to put fences up.

Equipment for the main build has been dropped off and a mini digger is working on the site.

A spokesman from Diocese of Lancaster confirmed the contract has been signed and sent.

A delighted John McAuley, headteacher at Newman Catholic School, said: “The school community is delighted that contracts have been signed and finalised to start the new build project.

“Considerable time has been spent in the design process to ensure we can offer outstanding facilities and resources for our students from year seven into sixth form.

“We are looking forward in the coming weeks to see the buildings start to rise up on the site."

Elizabeth Mallinson, chairman of Cumbria County Council, said: “I think it’s brilliant; as chairman of the County Council I was at the ceremony cutting the first turf for the new school.

“I’m absolutely delighted that Newman, at long last, is going to be built.

“A school that side of Carlisle is really needed and the children will have the opportunity to use the brand new school in very nice surroundings.”

Mr McAuley added: “We are now looking to the future to provide a new Catholic school fit for the 21st-century and are on our way to exciting new beginnings for Newman Catholic School, with our brand-new school due to open in 2020.”