Anonymous £1.5m for city school

An anonymous donor has given £1.5m to the Church of England in a bid to help a school achieve academy status.

The windfall came after the Church of England said it was seeking that amount of money to proceed with sponsoring Wyebridge Sports College in Hereford.

Anthony Priddis, the Bishop of Hereford, said the donation was a pleasant surprise and came with no strings attached.

The academy is expected to be open by September 2009.

Bishop Anthony said the money came through the Charities Aid Foundation.

"The other astonishing thing about the offer is it comes with no strings attached and the donor or donors do not wish to have any say in the running of the school," he said.

He also said the school would not have "church places" as part of its admissions policy but would be open to all.