WILTSHIRE schools are preparing to take in hundreds of children who are due to move back to the UK as part of the recall of service personnel from Germany.

The Army Basing Programme will see 4,000 military folk and their families starting new lives in the county.

A school building programme, funded by the MOD, has involved creating new schools and the expansion of some schools. In total there will be an extra 90 early years, 750 primary and 375 secondary school places.

Wiltshire Council leader baroness Jane Scott said: “After many years of preparation and planning we are now on the home straight and ready to welcome the service personnel and their families from Germany. Partnership working has been so important to ensure essential works are carried out and we are grateful to local residents for their understanding as those works have been ongoing.

“We recognise the huge contribution, both economic and social, the military personnel and their families bring to the county and we are looking forward to welcoming them later this year.”

Programme director Mark Duddy said: “The provision of school places is a pivotal piece of the Army Basing plan. We have been working closely with Wiltshire Council since 2013 to ensure that all supporting facilities and infrastructure is provided. I am delighted that such progress has been made across Salisbury Plain to welcome the children back from Germany and those moving within the UK.”