PLANS to replace the fire-gutted Rogerstone Primary School, in Newport, have moved a step closer with the council now considering detailed plans for a state-of-the-art £7 million building.

A single storey primary school with a floodlit all-weather pitch is planned at the site of the old school in Ebenezer Drive.

The submitted plans are currently being considered by Newport city council planners and it is hoped that the children could even be in the new school by September, 2005.

Rogerstone Primary School was destroyed by a huge blaze in April, 2003.

Two teenage boys aged 15 and 16 were cleared of deliberately starting the fire after a three-week trial in December.

Following the fire pupils have been taught at the empty Westfield School in Malpas.

The new school will provide for children from the ages three to 11, with a nursery school, foundation school and junior school.

A special learning centre is also planned for the site.

Ernie Watkins, chairman of governors at the school, said: "We are very optimistic about the plans.

"There are a lot of environmentally friendly features designed to let in a lot of natural light, and there are large classrooms and a large hall, the size of two badminton courts.

"We are now looking forward to building starting and hope the planning process does not take too long.

"It will be good to get back into our own premises because the transporting of children to and from Westfield School in Malpas is not ideal."

Parents and friends of pupils have rallied to support the school, raising thousands of pounds to pay for new equipment.