The monster £8.5m project to rebuild Dartmouth Academy is set to begin next month.

'This is the best Christmas present we could have received,' said school principal Nick Hindmarsh.

Contractors are expected to move onto the school site before the end of January to begin work on a project designed to reshape education facilities in Dartmouth.

Meanwhile, local residents are being invited to meet the development build team at Townstal Community hall on Monday, January 28, from 3pm to 6pm.

The huge project includes the construction of new classroom and other major facilities for the all-through academy to bring the campus into the 21st century. It even includes a new restaurant designed by Dartmouth chef Mitch Tonks which will be open to the public when the school is not using it for lunches.

The 'vision' for the project also includes many hi-tech and environmentally friendly features.

The Abingdon-based construction company Leadbitters has been given the job of building the project.

The plans for the new school were first unveiled in May this year when it was hoped that work would begin this autumn but problems over the planning application meant months of delays. The final approval for the major project finally came through last week.

Mr Hindmarsh added: 'We have had a wonderful year so far, seeing a continuing improvement in standards and our staff and students working closely with the community on a number of events, such as the food festival and Candlelit Dartmouth, and now we have had this wonderful news.

'The new school buildings will support our innovative and inspiring curriculum and our sense of an all-through academy family through its design. Leadbitter's workmen will begin their work soon and we hope to hold the breaking-ground ceremony before the end of January. We could be moving into our rebuilt school a year later.'

He said that during the build there will be ongoing updates through the academy newsletter, its termly magazine and the academy's website, which already has links to a video showing what the rebuilt school will look like.

In addition, Leadbitter will be producing its own newsletter to help keep everyone informed.

Mr Hindmarsh said some final administrative issues had delayed the initial planned start date of October but planning permission has now been granted and contractors will begin preparatory work on site as soon as possible.

He said it is hoped to have the official breaking-ground ceremony when building work begins before the end of January. The estimated length of the build will be 12 months and work should be completed by the end of the summer 2014.