BUILDING work on an £11million school revamp in Southend has ground to a halt after its main contractor went into administration, it has been revealed.

Futures College in Southchurch Boulevard has teamed up with leading vocational college Prospects to rebuild parts of the school.

The new school buildings will be equipped for young people studying GCSEs and skills specific to trades such as construction or engineering, as well as those on apprenticeships.

The whole of the new college is due to be open by the autumn term in 2010, when Prospects College’s main base in Fairfax Drive, Westcliff, will close.

However, principal Neil Bates said building work at Futures had stopped because its main contractor went into administration.

He added: “We have run into trouble with our contractors, William Berry.

“It was one of the oldest established firms in the construction business and was contractor of the year in 2008.

“But on April 16 this year, it called in an administrator and because of the uncertainty of the situation, Futures terminated its contract with them.”

Mr Bates added Futures was in talks with two other major firms and it was hoped an announcement would be made on the appointment of a new contractor by May 22.

“The initial contract was worth £11.4million, and we are currently about 20 per cent into it.

“It could mean some delay, but we are determined there will not be any effect on the opening date or impact on our students.”

He said the college would be seeking, where possible, to also protect the interests of sub contractors working on the building.