It was a day many in Helston feared they might never see – but now the town’s secondary school has confirmed that work on its long-awaited rebuild is finally about to begin.

If all goes to plan, building work at Helston Community College will start in September, finally bringing a close to a chapter that has had all the ups and downs of a bestselling novel after funding was promised and withdrawn twice, followed by a two-year delay on this latest agreement.

However, yesterday the college announced on its website that over the next six weeks senior staff will be taking part in a series of meetings with companies hoping to win the contract to rebuild between 80 and 90 per cent of the college’s upper school site, taking in C-Block (maths and English), D-Block (science and PE) and E-Block (technology).

The contract is due to be awarded in April and towards the end of that month, or the early part of May, a public consultation will begin as part of the planning process, to which all parents as well as the wider community will be invited to attend.

If all goes ahead as planned, the aim is for work to begin on site in September.

The college said yesterday: “We are really excited that things are, at long last, beginning to happen.”

The news has also been welcomed by Helston West and Porthleven Cornwall councillor Andrew Wallis, who is also cabinet member for young people.

Describing the announcement as “really exciting,” particularly after the school’s previous disappointments, Mr Wallis said: “Details on what will be built are still being finalised, but a start date is fantastic. Huge credit to the college head, governors and staff at Cornwall Council for never losing faith in getting this money.”

It was back in February 2015 that then Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg visited the school to reveal it would receive millions of pounds to update what he described as “passed their sell-by date” buildings.

Although no figure was given for the specific amount Helston would receive, in order to not affect the tendering process, the town’s then MP Andrew George said it would be in the “tens” of millions, coming from the second phase of the Priority School Building Programme - worth £2 billion nationally.

Since then work has been going on behind the scenes, planning and costing the project and beginning the tendering process.

The college was originally due to receive money under a similar government programme, Building Schools for the Future, which was subsequently cancelled.

Then, in 2014, Cornwall Council revealed it was unable to find the £10 million it had agreed in principle, to help the college rebuild C-Block – a building where in the past windows have had to be screwed in over safety fears and there is asbestos in the walls.

This grant will only cover renovations to the north site renovations, with the government deeming the south site building - although older - still fit for purpose.