School’s £2.2 million extension is opened

the Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor Ateeque Ur-Rehman and Yasmin Toor, are pictured with Andy Walker, staff, governors, guests and pupils at the ribbon-cutting ceremony

FORMER “Emmerdale” actor, motivational speaker and fund-raiser Andy Walker was among guests at the opening of six new classrooms at Mills Hill Primary School.

Andy, from Milnrow, who was paralysed in a freak accident in 2006, helped the Mayor, Councillor Ateeque Ur Rehman, officially open the £2.2 million block.

The work was part of a £3.9 million scheme to expand four oversubscribed and well-performing Oldham primaries so they can take more pupils. The bulk of the money came from the Government and was topped up by the council and the Church of England.

Head teacher Ian Mason said: “We are grateful to the local authority for securing the funding to allow Mills Hill to expand.”

Pupils on the school council added: “We love working in our new building. Staff have made it really colourful and welcoming.”