THE FIRST stage of a £2m rebuilding programme at a Hampshire school for troubled youngsters has been approved.

Work on upgrading the facilities at the Lakeside School in Chandler's Ford will begin at the end of this month.

The part-boarding and day special school in Winchester Road caters for 56 boys aged between 11 and 16 who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Phase one of the programme will include the refurbishment of boarding accommodation to provide 20 bedrooms for pupils, two common rooms, four bathrooms and two staff bedrooms.

Further work will include the construction of a new specialist teaching block.