Work on a new multi-million pound learning campus in Neilston is underway.

Pupils, teachers and councillors gathered together on Friday for a sod-cutting ceremony.

The event has been hailed as a major milestone in the project, which will bring Neilston Primary, St Thomas’ Primary and the Madras Family Centre together on a shared site.

The new hub is being built on ground within the site of the current Neilston Primary, allowing the existing school to continue running during construction.

Once the new school and nursery facility is completed, the current Neilston Primary and Madras Family Centre will be demolished to make way for an all-weather football pitch and multi-use games area.

East Renfrewshire Council leader Owen O’Donnell said: “This sod-cutting event officially marks the start of a new educational chapter in Neilston.

“The village has always enjoyed fantastic learning opportunities from the wonderful staff at Neilston Primary, St Thomas’ Primary and Madras Family Centre but, once this amazing shared campus is complete, it will take things to the next level.

“From the Digi-Zone to the dedicated space for science, technology, engineering and maths and the fabulous outdoor spaces which will be created, this really will be a learning campus which will fire the imaginations of the children and young people who come here.”

Heron Bros – the company responsible for recently building five new nursery facilities across East Renfrewshire and the joint faith campus which includes St Clare’s Primary and Calderwood Lodge Primary and Nursery Class, in Newton Mearns – has started initial enabling works at the Neilston site, with construction to begin over the summer break.

Councillor Andrew Anderson, East Renfrewshire’s education and equalities convener, said: “It is fantastic for this project to be getting started and I can’t wait to see it starting to take shape in the months ahead.

“Creating quality learning environments for children and young people across East Renfrewshire is so important in supporting their educational development.

“This new campus will also become a real focal point for the community and will be an asset for the whole village to benefit from.”

As part of a separate phase of regeneration works planned for Neilston, proposals are still being developed to create a new leisure centre in the village.