The hold-up to building the new Our Lady and St Patrick's High School at Bellsmyre has now been resolved.

Scottish Finance Minster John Swinney told the Scottish Parliament the £25million new school build could now go ahead.

The Reporter revealed in April the new OLSP build was to be hit by lengthy delays, following an EU ruling which affect how Holyrood hands out funds.

Work had been set to begin at the school’s new Bellsmyre site this summer, with the project due to be completed in time for the 2016/17 academic year.

West Dunbartonshire Council's education chief, Terry Lanagan, said at the time if the financial problem could be fixed by June the earliest start date would be January.

Now, five months later, the start date is likely to have been further delayed but the project can finally progress.

Mr Swinney said: "I am pleased to be able to announce Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School, part of our Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme, can now begin to be delivered. This new school will provide a modern environment for children to learn in and will be a fantastic facility for the whole community to enjoy for generations to come.”

The new school was one 12 projects put on hold earlier this year while advice was sought from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) on the impact of changes to European accounting guidance.

Mr Swinney said three of the twelve can now go ahead.

He said: "In light of the continuing constraint being applied to public finances – including capital budgets – we will continue to take forward programmes supporting additional investment in our economy and our asset base, creating jobs and enhancing services.

“As I have advised Parliament on a number of occasions over the last year, in response to updated EU accounting guidelines the Scottish Futures Trust submitted proposals to the ONS aimed at ensuring that the balance of public and private sector control and risk and reward in Scotland’s hub funding model reflects the updated guidance.

“While that process has been underway, twelve projects in the pipeline have been unable to reach financial close.

“I have today advised Parliament that these projects can now proceed to financial close as soon as possible."