UNDER-FIRE construction firm Jarvis faced fresh criticism after failing to complete a school refurbishment scheme on time.
The company was handed responsibility for a £55m improvement project encompassing eight schools in the Wirral, Merseyside.
But Labour MP for the area Frank Field launched a scathing attack on the company after it failed to finish work on five of the schools.
Mr Field, who represents Birkenhead, said: "It's appalling what Jarvis has done to these local schools."
It is believed that the work, which should have been completed by the new school year, will take months longer than originally expected.
Jarvis has already faced criticism in recent months after quitting its railway maintenance contracts.
And the company has been criticised for not completing work in schools in Kirklees.
It is responsible for multi-million pound schemes at 20 local schools.
The company is also at the centre of an investigation following the Potters Bar train crash, and has admitted being at fault for a derailment at King's Cross station in London in September.
Mr Field said: "We are having the same problems with these schools that the country had with Jarvis over the railways - delays, cancellations and excuses."
A spokeswoman for Jarvis said that some of the delays had been caused by asbestos found in buildings.
"We have apologised for them and taken action to mitigate the effect on pupils," she said.
The spokeswoman said that in the past year the firm had worked on seven projects involving more than 70 schools in Merseyside.
