THE new Netherthird Primary School building is STILL not ready to welcome pupils, council bosses have confirmed.

Kids are due back in class across East Ayrshire on Monday after their Christmas and New Year break.

However, Netherthird Primary pupils, who are being taught in the former Greenmill Primary building in Cumnock until their new school is ready, will remain there for the time being after East Ayrshire Council officials confirmed that the contractor is still not ready to hand over the state-of-the-art building.

The local authority says it hopes to confirm a handover date within the next few days - but that the new building is still nearing completion.

Construction of the new school was originally due to last a year, having started in September 2021.

However, that date was pushed back because of a utility connection issue.

The official handover of the school from contractors Keir Construction to East Ayrshie Council was then due to take place on Friday, November 4.

That date was also the rescheduled until after the new year due to the main contractor having "further difficulty with statutory building compliance".

Now East Ayrshire Council has confirmed that the handover will not completed in time for schools going back on Monday, but they hope this will be done soon.

A spokesperson said: "East Ayrshire Council can confirm that the new Netherthird Primary School is nearing completion and hopes to confirm the official handover date to parents and carers next week."