Councillors have agreed a £10.8m plan to rebuild an East Sussex secondary school which was devastated in an arson attack two years ago.

Tideway Community School in Newhaven will be extended and refurbished after the decision by East Sussex County Council's planning committee.

Council officials hope the project will start in July and be completed by October next year.

Planning has gone into providing alternative accommodation on site for pupils during the works to keep disruption to a minimum.

It is also hoped that major works including demolition will happen during the school holidays, said a council spokesman.

Councillor Rupert Simmons said: "This is clearly a very good day for Tideway.

"It has taken a lot of time and hard work but I am delighted that we can now look to give the school a fresh start.

"The school has faced many challenges since the arson attack and all concerned deserve credit for the way they have met those challenges.

"We have worked very closely with the school at every stage of this process and together we have done everything possible to minimise the affect that this disruption has had on pupils."

The plans will see large parts of the building completely rebuilt and other parts modernised and integrated into a single complex.