A CWMBRAN school's £245,000 science block extension was opened yesterday - after a little help from a work of art.

A painting which hung at Llantarnam Comprehensive School for many years - Daughters of Eve by G D Leslie - was sold for £170,000 at auction.

That, coupled with savings made to the school budget for five years, meant the new extension could be built.

It was opened by guest of honour Terry Cobner, Director of Rugby at the WRU and a former sports master at the school.

Mr Cobner taught there for ten years prior to 1979 - and yesterday he and other dignitaries experienced a science lesson.

Under the watchful eye of teacher Nicola Willmott they had to identify which 12 household substances were acid, alkali or neutral.

Mr Cobner, 56, said: "It is a cracking facility. I am delighted to see the school improving. I have still got good friends here and of course my wife teaches here.

"I enjoyed the lesson. It was a good way of getting out to people what real science is and how its used in a practical application."

* In the picture: WRU boss Terry Cobner with science teacher Nicola Willmott in the new lab.

David Kitchen, headteacher, said: "The facility gives an additional 300 sq metres for our pupils to undertake lessons in. It comes just on time to help us as our numbers grow.

"The lesson the dignitaries took part in was designed to show people what the school does and to show them how the school has changed over the last generation."

The new science block replaces a number of demountable classrooms which were becoming unfit for use. It provides a chemistry laboratory, physics room and a general classroom that has a flexible use.

Construction on the science block started just after Easter and was completed in time for the new term this academic year.