WORK on an extension to Bolton Sixth Form College is set to start this month, it has been announced.

Education bosses have kept the contract local, with Farnworth-based Seddon set to begin construction of the £3.8million project imminently.

Workers from the Plodder Lane outfit have previously been entrusted with the scheme for a student refectory six years ago.

Preparation work, launched last month, has already seen a series of internal alterations made to the Deane Road building, ahead of the extension getting underway.

Ed Wootton, regional director at Seddon said: "This extension will provide an already excellent college with much-needed facilities that will enrich the lives of both students and staff.

"With room for another 230 students, we're excited to deliver a project which will make a real difference to the learning experience of young people in Bolton."

The add-on will provide new study areas, offices and refectory space, enabling the college to swells its ranks in future.

Lesley Hart, the sixth form's deputy principal, added: "I am delighted that Seddon was awarded the contract.

"It is a local company that I have previously worked with and I was extremely happy with the extension completed in 2013."

Manchester-based 10 Architects completed the designs for the extension and structural work has been left to WML Consulting.

Mechanical and engineering services have come courtesy of the Waterman Group Ltd, who are also based in the city.

Another phase of alterations has been pencilled in for the summer of 2020, which will see the connection of the new extension to the main building, ahead of an anticipated autumn completion

College chiefs say work on the extension will be completed during term time, so that there will be minimum disruption for sixth form students and staff.

This month has already seen the construction company begin work on a £5million renovation project for Colchester Hospital. And March saw the firm start work on a commission to create a new regional headquarters for Bloor Homes in mid-Cheshire.