Work to extend and refurbish a Douglas primary school has been delayed again.

The £3.6m project at St Mary’s Roman Catholic primary had originally been due to finish for the start of the new academic year in September.

But with the work weeks behind schedule, the completion date was put back to the October half term.

Now education chiefs say the project won’t be finished until the end of the autumn term in December.

A spokesman for the Department of Education, Sport and Culture said disruption would be kept to a minimum.

She said: ’The remaining work on internal areas is expected to be finished later this month, so the school will be able to use all areas from the beginning of December.

’Roofing and cladding works are expected to continue up to the end of term.

’Following this, the aim is that the contractor removes the compound cabins and restores grassed areas, for use by the school.

’Disruption to school activities is being kept to a minimum.’

The delays to the project meant some six- and seven-year-olds were taught in mobile classrooms situated at nearby St Ninian’s High School until early October. Since October 7, all classes have been taught in new or refurbished classrooms.

And for the first few days of the term, the kitchen at St Mary’s was not fully operational, and the children were provided with cold meals. A hot meal service resumed on September 9.

The refurbishment scheme for St Mary’s includes five new classrooms along with an extension to the multi-purpose school hall and two existing classrooms.

The old 1960s-style building has been completely re-clad. Two internal lifts have been installed to provide disabled access and extra disabled toilets have been provided.

The roof covering and all external doors and windows have been replaced.

Planning permission was granted in July 2017 and Tynwald funding approval was secured in March 2018.