TWO schools in Hedge End have been given an early Christmas present.

Freegrounds Infant and Wildern Secondary are to benefit from building improvements worth nearly £1.5m.

Councillor David Kirk, Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Children's Services, has given the go ahead for the building work.

At Freegrounds a double temporary building will be replaced with a purpose-built single storey extension.

It will cost around £628,000 and will create new classroom space, a new reception area, administration offices, reconfiguration of the library space, and new toilet facilities.

The school is chipping in £113,000. The remaining £515,000 will come from the children's services capital programme. It is hoped work will begin on the project in March with completion in September 2008.