SOUTH coast construction firm Benson continues to forge ahead in the education world with a new contract for work at Reading's Prospect Technology College.

Representatives from the firm, which has its regional base at Hedge End, recently attended the combined sod cutting and opening ceremonies at the college.

Martin Salter, MP for Reading West, and Councillor Jo Lovelock, Reading's lead councillor for education, officially opened the new library and launched the start of the construction of the Learning Centre which will be used by sixth-form pupils and will incorporate a common room and canteen, seminar rooms and leisure facilities.

The fourth phase of the £6m expansion and refurbishment programme of the college is to be completed by July 2003 and will also be used for community learning, such as adult education classes.

Grahame Pettit, regional managing director of Southampton-based Benson, says that his team is delighted to be working with the college again on its fourth project.

The expansion project will enable the West Reading School to accommodate all former Meadway School pupils in permanent buildings by September 2004.

It will also provide room for the increasing number of applicants from outside Prospect's catchment area.

Cllr Lovelock said that the expansion and improvement of Prospect College had been a high priority for the council.