Education chiefs have invested £13 million to create 97 extra school places – including the expansion of a St Albans school.

An extra 30 places will be offered at Prae Wood Primary School in Mayne Avenue from September 2016.

It is part of a £13m cash injection by Hertfordshire County Council to expand five schools across the county to a bid to meet the anticipated growth in demand for places next year.

Councillor Chris Hayward, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “We want all children to have access to a good education so they can reach their full potential.

“That means ensuring the right number of school places in the right location.

“This is a significant challenge given there are 10,000 more children under the age of four in Herts today than a decade ago.

“But despite the continuing financial pressures we face, we will continue to invest money to ensure that where the county’s population grows we build the appropriate infrastructure.”

The council has spent £170m over the past four years to offer an extra 3,000 school places with a further £76m set aside for the next two years as demand continues to grow.