The cash - from this year's £500m county council education budget - will be spent extending Manor Park Primary's junior school to accommodate the infants.

Only one other Cheshire school - in Winsford - will receive a bigger payout.

"It's good news for the school and we're absolutely delighted," said headmistress Ros Hipkiss on Monday.

Building engineers will visit the school soon to discuss the scheme with Mrs Hipkiss and school governors.

"The governors have looked at ways of improving the school and it's considered that it will be an improvement to have all the children in one building," said Mrs Hipkiss.

It's not yet been decided what will happen to the old infant and nursery block once the pupils move.

No other Knutsford school has been promised improvements, but councillors at last Thursday's meeting were told that £1.5 million will be spent on smaller schemes in the county in the next financial year.

Education bosses will also set aside £6 million to pay for a 3.7 per cent teachers' pay rise.

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