WORK on preparing the site of the new Ardrossan school campus is now under way.

Diggers moved on to the North Shore site on Wednesday to start remediation work on the 'toxic land'.

Plans for the campus were officially approved by North Ayrshire Council earlier this month.

In addition to the school building, which will house Winton Primary and its early years facility as wellas Ardrossan Academy, the campus will also include sports pitches, a leisure pool and a public library.

However, before building work can start, remediation work on the site must completed to a satisfactory standard.

It has long been known that the North Shore site is regarded as 'toxic land', having previously housed a Shell oil refinery.

A previous application for the remediation work was approved last year, and North Ayrshire Council awarded the contract for completion of this work back in July.

The £3m contract for the remediation work was awarded to Sanctus Ltd - who the council says have worked on numerous brownfield and infrastructure programmes across the UK.

Several vehicles could be seen across the site, which is now fenced off from North Crescent Road, on Wednesday, September 27.

The council previously said that Sanctus would begin preparatory works towards the end of August, with a view to beginning the remediation works from mid-September.

The rear of the site, towards Mariners View, was not shut off until later in the day but has now been fenced off also.

The campus is currently scheduled to open by mid-2026.