WORK on the new £60 million York College reached its full height - prompting a celebratory topping-out ceremony.

Chris Banks, chairman of the Learning And Skills Council, used a silver spanner to tighten the final screw in the college's atrium, as distinguished guests looked on and toasted the new building.

The new college, at the south-western gateway to the city, is one of the biggest of its kind in the country and is on schedule to open in September 2007.

The building has been financed by the sale of the college's Tadcaster Road site, which is to be used for housing, plus a major grant from the Learning And Skills Council and significant funding from York College itself.

Mike Galloway, principal of York College, said: "The topping-out ceremony marked another milestone in this exciting and hugely important project. A massive amount of interest has been generated by the building, and we look forward to fully exploiting the opportunities it will offer the college to provide world class education and training in a world-class environment."

Mr Banks said: "This major investment will provide an environment of excellence in which high quality learning can take place."

Kevin Donegan, divisional director of Balfour Beatty Construction Northern, said: "We are delighted to be working with York College to provide this new college with a greatly enhanced education environment."