The Manilva Town Council has opened the bidding for the contract to build a new Church and children's day-care complex in Castillo de la Duquesa. The project is expected to cost in the region of 520,000 euros.

Councillor Francisco Miguel Alvarez, who's Culture Department is overseeing this project, informed us that after numerous meetings with the Bishopric of Malaga, in who's diocese Manilva is situated, the work is expected to completed in 2008.

The original idea had been to renovate the school premises adjacent to the church but works had to be halted when it was discovered that the building was in such a bad state of repair that the only course was to demolish it at which stage negotiations began with the Bishopric of Malaga in 2004, and who gave their approval in 2005 for the re-development.

The project will involve the demolition of the existing church and adjoining premises and the construction of a new church and a nursery school with four classrooms for children up to the age of 3.