Oldbury College of Sport is a step closer to being rebuilt after the Government signed off on the multi-million pound contract.

Education secretary Michael Gove approved £60m plans for three new secondary schools in Sandwell.

After the Government halted the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme in the Summer there had been fears that Oldbury rebuild would be scrapped like the other nine in Sandwell which have been axed.

Sandwell Council Leader Cllr Darren Cooper said: "Today's announcement is good news for the pupils who will now have the chance to learn in 21st century schools.

"Partnerships for Schools went through the plans with a fine toothcomb to see where savings could be made and didn't find any, which shows just how careful we have been with these schemes. They are a good investment.

"I congratulate Michael Gove for his decision - and ask him to give other children the same chance by reprieving the nine projects he has axed. Unless he does so, his legacy will be new schools for a minority of pupils."

The council and Partnerships for Schools, the quango overseeing BSF, lobbied the Government why the schemes should go ahead.

Along with Sandwell Futures, the organisation overseeing BSF in the borough, the council can now negotiate final contracts for Oldbury College of Sports.

Nine other rebuilding projects worth £138m remain axed and Sandwell Council is taking legal action against the Government over the decision.

The Rowley Learning Campus in Rowley Regis is due to be finished in February.