SPIRALLING building costs have forced Rednock School to scale back their ambitious designs and use some of their existing buildings in the new school development.

The secondary school in Dursley has £28 million to create a new state-of-the-art school, but as costs have increased Gloucestershire County Council have told them they cannot afford to put any more money into the project.

When the first sod was cut in November last year, pupils and staff were promised an entirely new facility.

However to save money, the school will now have retain two of its current buildings.

Cllr Joan Nash, cabinet member for schools, said: "The project to rebuild the school is being financed by the government, the county council and the school itself.

"Unfortunately, there is not enough money to do everything that the school originally wanted.

"Rising building costs have meant that the plans have had to be altered and some of the school's present buildings will be adapted for other uses."

A county council spokeswoman said: "We cannot say exactly how much extra money the project needed. It was not a specific amount of money but just spiralling building costs that have meant the project needs to be scaled down.

"The county council cannot afford to give them any more than the £28 million they already have."

Headteacher of the school David Alexander said that although the news sounded negative, the school now saw this as an opportunity to utilise the facilities it already has.

"The original idea was to create a completely new building," said Mr Alexander.

"However we will still have the state-of-the-art part of the build, but we will keep two of our original buildings.

"This is not going to compromise our vision for the new school, we now see it as an opportunity to use what we already have."

The school plans to keep its current music room and modern sixth form drama studio instead of creating new ones to reduce costs.

The new school is expected to be completed by September 2009.