A project to transform a building from housing crooks to storing books has been completed with the addition of one vital ingredient – school pupils.

Classes have begun at the former Hove Police Station site in Holland Road which has reopened as a satellite campus of Hove Junior School following a major £2.4 million refurbishment.

Children received their first full lessons at the school this week with three classes starting at the new site.

Within four years, the school will be home to nearly 500 pupils and 40 members of staff.

The satellite school site is linked to the main parent campus in School Road of what was formerly known as West Hove Junior School before a name change this summer.

The Holland Road project has been driven by Brighton and Hove City Council in response to high demand for primary school places in central and south Hove and the remodelling of the 1964-built police station for use as classrooms was designed and implemented by the council’s property and design team.

Councillor Sue Shanks, chair of the council’s children and young people committee, said: “Hove Juniors is an excellent school, and we’re delighted that they are running the new Holland Road site. “It means both a high quality education and continuity for the children coming from Connaught Road.”

Headteacher Janis Taylor said: “Our new Holland Road site is looking fantastic.

“The conversion job from the old police station has been absolutely first class – once you walk through the door you really wouldn’t recognise it.

“We’re really excited to have finally welcomed the children in, and the feedback we’ve had from our parents has been incredibly positive.”