IT WAS smiles at the official groundbreaking ceremony for a new Hampshire school.

Organisers say plans are now running smoothly to build the new Barton Farm Academy, in Winchester, after the project was delayed.

The school, which is part of the new Kings Barton housing development, was meant to open in Spring 2019 after planning permission was given four years ago. However schedules were delayed due to the slow progress of the rest of the long-awaited development of 2,000 homes, which was given the green light back in 2012.

Now, the ground has officially been broken for the £9million school and the builders Willmott Dixon expect it to be finished by May next year.

Councillor Jackie Porter (inset), part of the county council’s Education Advisory Panel, said: “It’s now running smoothly.”