Youngsters enjoyed their first lessons in a colourful new building at Workington Academy today.

The £16.5 million school, which has been built alongside the existing school building, has space for 1,200 students and includes two three-storey wings and a two-storey section.

Pupils Evie Askew, Rebecca Milligan, Samuel Coates and Luke Scott were among the first to be welcomed into the building.

Evie, 17, said: "It's really eye-catching and the facilities are much improved."

Samuel, 18, added: "I think it looks very modern so we'll enjoy being here and learning more."

The 93,000 sq ft building includes science labs, a kitchen, design technology rooms, art workshops, a fitness suite, a gym, a drama studio, a main hall and a learning resource centre.

The building was constructed by company Sir Robert McAlpine as part of the Government’s Priority Schools Building Programme.

Staff completed training in the days before the children arrived this week, then welcomed them to the new building yesterday.

Interim headteacher Colette Macklin said: "We feel so fortunate that we have been able to have this fabulous new building.

"We really do need to be worthy of it and the investment in our children and our community.

"When staff came in this morning our jaws have all dropped because of the beauty of the building, the cleanliness, the light and space and the opportunities that we now have for creative learning."

Workington Academy closed the doors of its 62-year-old building to pupils for the final time before half-term.

That building was originally Workington Grammar School then became Stainburn School before Stainburn merged with Southfield Technology College to create the academy last year.

Preliminary work to demolish the old building will begin once the children are settled into the new building and, following demolition, the grounds will be landscaped.

The existing sports hall is to be refurbished and linked to the new building.