CONSTRUCTION work on a college is going ahead, despite rumours that the project has been cancelled.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and contractor HBG Construction began the 65-week long construction project for Freebrough Specialist Engineering College at Brotton, yesterday.

Residents have been sent the first in a series of newsletters as preparation work on the site began with the installation of works cabins, secure fencing and drainage.

Councillor Steve Kay, the council's cabinet member for education, yesterday dismissed rumours that the project had been cancelled.

He said: "We've been told there are rumours circulating in Brotton that the project has been cancelled and the school is not going to be built.

"While we can categorically state there is absolutely no truth in this sort of mischief-making, we do have concerns that any misinformation may have a detrimental effect on the college roll, as parents are involved in making choices for their children's secondary schooling."

He added: "To be fair to the people of Brotton and the rest of east Cleveland, there have been plans to build a school in east Cleveland, which are now five years old - this has dragged on a long time.

"The whole saga has gone on for five years, so you can understand the way they feel that things will never happen.

"But, we are going ahead as far as humanly possible to give parents and children what they really deserve.

"I can assure them that something now, at long last, is going to happen. We are most anxious people don't give up on Freeborough College.

"We are building a state-of-the-art school, fit for the 21st Century, which everyone in east Cleveland can and will be extremely proud of."

The first newsletter landing on residents' doormats outlines the proposed school lay-out. The college will be a steel-framed structure containing a range of facilities, including a library for both school and public use, a modern sports hall, with changing rooms, plus outdoor pitches which will be available to the community in out-of-school hours.

Work on the school will be completed sometime next year.