SCHOOLS in Horsforth and Menston are to receive a slice of new government money for building improvements.

The - now dissolved - coalition Government has allocated an extra £367 million to help more than 1,000 schools carry out repair or expansion work. Among those to benefit will be St Mary’s, Menston and St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, in Horsforth.

Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough, Stuart Andrew, welcomed the news. He said: “Families in Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough deserve local schools with facilities that provide the best learning environment. “It is great news that, thanks to the difficult decisions the Government took to deal with our deficit, it has been possible to fund this boost for some of our great local schools and address the needs of our children. “Part of our long-term economic plan was to deliver the best schools and skills for young people, and we have a million more children in schools rated good or outstanding than in 2010.

“This announcement means local pupils will feel the direct benefit of our plan, and get the investment in their education that they deserve.”