Work has begun on converting the old school in Patrick village into a visitor centre for the former Knockaloe internment camp.

The project aims to create a fit for purpose centre which will include an archive on First World War internment.

It will be located directly opposite the entrance to Knockaloe in the historic village schoolroom which was latterly in use as Patrick Community Centre.

The building was the former inquest and court venue for the internment camp during the First World War.

The Knockaloe Internment Camp charity behind the scheme said the old camp is a potential world heritage site.

Laxey Village Workshop is carrying out the refurbishment and building work on the old schoolroom and it is expected to take eight months to complete.

Last Saturday, a clearance sale was held in the building to raise money towards the project.

As part of the scheme the damp and crumbling kitchen will be demolished and a toilet extension added.

The charity fears a sewage plant scheme could scupper its wider plans.

Government-owned land at Knockaloe is one of a number of sites being considered by Manx Utilities for a regional sewage treatment plant for Peel.

The charity said this was not an appropriate location given that Knockaloe was the site of the world’s largest ever internment camp and should be preserved and commemorated for the descendants of those who were incarcerated there.

Pending a decision on the location of the sewage treatment works, a scaled back interpretation path is being created and will be launched later this year.

During the building work, the path at the back of the schoolroom will be temporarily moved.