Workington's newest school will mark its next milestone on Tuesday.

A turf-cutting ceremony will be held to mark the start of work on Workington Academy's new building.

Planning permission was granted in July for the four-storey building, which will be built behind the former Stainburn School buildings.

With space for 1,200 pupils from year seven to sixth form, the new building will include two three-storey wings and a two-storey section.

It will be linked to the existing sports hall, which will be refurbished.

Space will be left on the site to accommodate possible future expansion.

Workington Academy opened in September, using the existing buildings on the Stainburn site.

Pupils are due to move into the new building in spring 2017, after which the old buildings will be demolished.

There will be 157 car parking spaces in the new development, up from 84 in the current set up.

Parking will also be provided for 180 bicycles.

The building work is being led by contractor Sir Robert McAlpine.

Jonathan Logan, headteacher, said: "We are delighted that the new academy building is underway and on schedule to open January 2017.

"The young people from Workington and surrounding areas deserve the best possible education and our new premises will help us to achieve this.

"We are also working closely with the building contractor, Sir Robert McAlpine, to ensure that learning is not disrupted in any way during the construction phase."