STAFF and students at a Highbridge are celebrating as works to build a news centre on the school site have been completed.

The King Alfred School on Burnham Road has set up The Jill Dando News Centre so students at the school can report on exciting events to the local community.

The centre has been set up in memory of Weston-super-Mare born television broadcaster and journalist, Jill Dando, who died after being fatally shot outside her home in Fulham on April 28, 1999 aged just 37.

Nathan Jenkins, principal of The King Alfred School, said it is an exciting time for the school.

He said: "We are delighted to launch our new Jill Dando News Centre. The students have been buzzing for weeks."

Students who get involved with the news centre will be given blue jackets and will be finding and writing news stories which will be posted on the school website.

The jacketed students will involve the local community by reporting on their achievements and will be finding stories on a variety of subjects including hobbies and heroic acts in a bid to continue Ms Dando's legacy.

Year 10 student Izzy Simmons, who is part of the news team, said: “As part of this assembly of talented people, I feel privileged to be part of it and I look forward to the future of the Jill Dando News Team."

The news centre will be officially launched at a special ceremony on Monday, December 17 at 11am and Nigel Dando, Ms Dando's brother will be giving a lecture to students on the day.

Ali Wray, an English teacher who is involved in the project, said "I am thrilled to be involved in such an exciting project, our students are incredibly talented and I cannot wait to see how this develops."