PUPILS at a school in Horwich will soon be enjoying a taste of the "Good Life".

Lever Park Special School is looking to set up a market garden within its grounds, where young people will grow their own food to eat at school and to sell on local market stalls.

The school, on Stocks Park Drive, Horwich, which helps pupils who have emotional and behavioural issues has won a grant of £8,200 as part of the Government's extended schools programme.

Carole Darbyshire, a counsellor at the school, said: "Three other schools are also establishing gardens in their grounds with the money, such as a wildlife garden at Rivington and Blackrod High School."

The idea for the garden has been in the pipeline for a while after pupils suggested they would like to be able to grow their own food.

Mrs Darbyshire said: "This ties in not only with the healthy eating and living we promote in school, but also with the curriculum, such as studying science and maths.

"It also encourages children to be enterprising and develop skills that they can use in the world of work.

"They will grow their own vegetables and eat them in school and any surplus will be sold on local market stalls."

The project will involve all the children in the school, who Mrs Darbyshire says are already planning what to grow in the garden.

The school has already applied for planning permission to erect a polytunnel - a greenhouse made of plastic or polythene.

Through the market garden, young people will be able to obtain a qualification associated with horticulture.

"This is a very exciting project and will raise the self-esteem and confidence of the children. They are already coming up with all sorts of ideas of what to grow in the garden," said Mrs Darbyshire.

Work on the garden will begin once planning permission is granted.