ROMSEY’S mayor has officially opened Stroud School’s new £2.5million state-of-the-art facilities.

Mayor Peter Hurst was given a tour of a the new classroom pod which includes a design and technology room, art room and modern foreign languages room on the site of the New House which was gutted by fire last year.

Staff and pupils joined Mr Hurst when he cut the red ribbons during Tuesday’s official opening. School governors, contractors and architects were also present.

Mr Hurst, who also opened the school’s new dining room said he was pleased to see the money been invested in the pupils education and was proud to have Stroud School as part of the Romsey community.

Headmaster Alastair Dodd said the enhancements were long overdue and fitted in with the school’s rural setting.

The dining room is eco friendly with a grass roof finish and all the new buildings along with Highwood House are kept warm by a £333,000 bio-mass heating system.