A £1m building programme to transform a Norfolk school from first to primary standard has started.Sporle Primary School marked the beginning of the long awaited works by holding a special ceremony where members of the school council picked up spades alongside builders and architects to turn the first sods of soil for a new era on Friday.

A £1m building programme to transform a Norfolk school from first to primary standard has started.

Sporle Primary School marked the beginning of the long awaited works by holding a special ceremony where members of the school council picked up spades alongside builders and architects to turn the first sods of soil for a new era on Friday.

The project will create an extension and improvements to bring the former first school's facilities more in line with those of a primary school.

Chairman of governors Richard Palmer said: “This project has been long awaited and much desired by everyone associated by the school.

“Today marks the start of an extremely exciting phase in the history of the school and the excellent new facilities that are being provided will ensure we can enhance the high quality of education currently being provided.

“I would personally like to thank everyone who has worked so very hard to get us to this stage today and I look forward to when the desired outcome is achieved.”

When work is finished in October the 71-pupil school will have a new classroom and multi-purpose hall, while the current building will have been extensively remodelled and an existing classroom expanded.

A mobile classroom will also be removed from the site.

The extension and improvement is part of Norfolk County Council's £200m investment in school buildings.