THOUSANDS of bricks have been donated to Colchester Institute for bricklaying students to use.

Forterra, a manufacturer of concrete and clay building products, has donated 30 packs of the iconic London Brick - totalling almost 12,000 bricks - to the college campus in Colchester.

The bricks can now be used by students in practical learning activities and their upcoming assessments.

John Watkins, assistant area head of trowel occupations and associated trades at Colchester institute, said: “This donation from Forterra has given our students a fantastic opportunity to learn their craft with brand-new materials.

“As we head into student assessments, it will be really beneficial for them to be able to use brand-new bricks and for us, we will be able to see how cleanly our students are able to keep their brickwork.

“After a really difficult time financially, this donation has really helped us as a college, so we want to say a huge thank you to Forterra.”

Stephen Harrison, chief executive of Forterra, said: “We are pleased to be able to make this donation to Colchester Institute after what has been undoubtedly been a difficult time for students and teaching staff alike. We are very glad to be able to support up and coming bricklayers.”

London Brick has been in continuous production since 1877.

Used in the construction of almost a quarter of England’s housing stock, it has become an icon of the British built landscape.

London Brick is known for its distinctive ‘frog’ feature, which, as well as making it easier to handle and cut, ensures the brick hardens evenly during the firing process.

For more information, visit forterra.co.uk/london-brick.