PUPILS of Chowbent Primary School have moved from the oldest building in town to the newest.

The 185 pupils at the Atherton school had been occupying buildings which date back to 1735. Now, they have the most modern facilities in the Wigan borough.

The state-of-the-art £1.3m building in Laburnum Street was officially opened this week by Wigan Council leader, Lord Smith of Leigh.

The traditionally styled new building has been described by education bosses as vandal resistant, energy efficient and inexpensive to maintain.

Lord Smith, who lives in Atherton, performed the opening in front of 100 guests at a ceremony which took the form of a service in the spirit of a school assembly.

Chairman of the governors, the Rev Peter Hughes, minister of Chowbent Unitarian Chapel, said: "This fine new building represents a very welcome change. Its creation was necessary, inevitable and desirable.

"Although we have a lot of affection for the old building which provided a fine education for so many generations of Atherton people, it was increasingly unsuitable for the efficient delivery of the modern curriculum.

"All concerned with Chowbent School feel part of a long and cherished tradition, and our splendid new building now becomes part of this tradition."