SCHOOLS in Lancashire are being handed almost £85million to build state-of-the art classrooms, arts, sports and IT facilities over the next three years.

The cash will be available to schools between 2008 and 2011 and is, according to ministers, the biggest sustained investment in school buildings for generations.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council will be handed £9,860,979 and Lancashire County Council £75,670,020.

No breakdowns have been issued on where the cash will be spent.

But, as a guide, ministers say an "unmodernised" primary school of 250 pupils should get around £34,000 a year and an "unmodernised" secondary school of 1,000 pupils £113,000.

Those primaries which have already been modernised should get £17,000 a year and secondaries £56,000.

Announcing the move, Children's Secretary of State Ed Balls said: "This is another major step forward in creating 21st Century facilities fit for 21st Century education in every school.

"Schools are being revolutionised by the biggest sustained development for 50 years.

"Hundreds of new cutting-edge schools and facilities are now opening across the country year after year.

"Top class and well-designed facilities are central to raising standards and helping teachers inspire our young people.

"Every child and community should have high quality classrooms and cutting-edge ICT, music and sports facilities."

Coun Vali Patel, Lancashire County Council's schools chief, said the programme would help the local authority's schools carry on with a refurbishment programme that was already on going.

He said discussions had started on how the funds will be allocated but no decisions had been made.

Secondary schools in Burnley and Pendle and are being rebuilt over the next four years with £250million of Government cash.

By 2015, schools in Blackburn with Darwen are also being transformed with £150million of BSF cash.

The cash was annouced as part of £1.3bn worth of funding for the North West.