THE Government today accelerated Merseyside's school modernisation programmme.

Treasury ministers brought forward almost £19 million in funding for small-scale school projects across the city-region.

The cash, earmarked for 2010-11, will now be available from next month.

The move is part of Gordon Brown's plan to boost immediate public spending to invigorate the battered economy.

Most of the cash will go directly to primary and secondary school heads to spend on small but vital projects such as a new roof, classroom extension, gyms, science labs, improved security or IT.

The prime minister believes that will have a knock-on effect, boosting small local construction firms, plumbers and electricians.

Liverpool schools will have almost £4 million brought forward, taking the city's overall 2009-10 school modernisation budget to nearly £26 million.

Sefton will get £3.1 million early to a total of £11.5 million; Wirral over £6.9 million to £24.1 million; St Helens over £2.4 million to £11.5 million; and Knowsley £2.36 million to £11.5 million.

The funding for such capital projects is seperate from the Building Schools for the Future programme covering major school-building and replacement projects.

Children's Secretary Ed Balls said: "Today's measures are a vital boost for our unprecedented school building programme - immediate cash over the next 12 months to accelerate smaller modernisation projects.

"It will also boost the construction industry, one of the keys to a strong economy."

And schools minister Jim Knight, who led negotiations with the Treasury, said: "This gives us another tool to support our school building programme and keep it on track in the face of tightened lending in the financial markets."

Nationwide £919 million has been brought forward for thosands of projects across the state school system.