THE start of the new term at a York school has been delayed by two days due to an over-run in major building works.

The York Manor secondary school, which has about 650 pupils, was due to re-open next Wednesday, but pupils are now being asked to delay their return until Friday next week.

The school is benefiting from a £750,000 overhaul, including a new performing arts centre, new front-of-school and reception area and toilets.

Essential structural work for the project has been carried out over the summer break but clearing up has taken slightly longer than expected.

The school is contacting all parents of year seven pupils, who were due at the school as first formers on Wednesday, to inform them of the delay.

New headteacher Brian Crosby said: "We would obviously like to apologise to parents for the delay, but this is a major project bringing really important benefits to the school, its students and the community.

"This a high quality project and the contractors are doing a superb job and the last thing we want to do is to rush any stage of the work.

"This part of the work had to be done over the summer holiday to minimise disruption and while we have been trying to ensure the work is finished by Wednesday, in the end it just wasn't possible."