BASINGSTOKE'S newest school has been officially opened - and it has been hailed as a landmark project that is already bringing benefits to pupils and the wider community.

In front of an audience of students, staff and dignitaries, Hampshire County Council leader Councillor Ken Thornber unveiled a plaque at Everest Community College.

The struggling John Hunt of Everest Community School, in Popley Way, moved with a new name to the Merton Rise development in a £26.8million project that was completed in time for the new school year in September.

Cllr Thornber said: "This wonderful building is the very impressive outcome of a long period of close collaboration between Hampshire County Council and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

"This is, in every way, a joint project to regenerate the Popley area and provide a world-class education facility for all the young people of this community, as well as a first-class learning and leisure resource for the area as a whole."

He said he had already seen the pride the new college had instilled in pupils, staff and the wider community. Cllr Thornber added that the project showed the Government what local government could achieve.

Among the audience was Pam Threlfall and her son Greg. Her husband Jeffrey Threlfall was executive headteacher of the school until he died, aged 52, from cancer on October 11 - a day after collecting his CBE honour from the Queen.

Mr Threlfall helped new headteacher Julie Rose in her efforts to turn the school around. Ms Rose praised his significant contribution and there was a moment of silence in his memory at the official opening ceremony.

Turning to the future and the new school, Ms Rose said: "What we have here is a unique building."

She noted the generous space, youth block and community facilities and added: "For many of us who have spent half a lifetime in education, this represents real luxury.

"The building, the facilities, the equipment, have all been provided in such generous measure that, having been given the tools, we know we have to make a success of the job - and we will."

Students played their part in the opening ceremony with the school's steel band entertaining the visitors and Year 7 students Christopher Paige and Abbi Nelson reading a poem.

Earlier, the pupils took part in a balloon launch. Each one paid a pound to enter and the student whose balloon travels the furthest will win a laptop computer.