A GROUP of school children went down in history -- by burying a time capsule beneath Bolton's newest school.

They stuffed a steel tube with dozens of artefacts and a copy of the Bolton Evening News before placing it inside the foundations of Valley Community Primary School.

The £3.5million state-of-the-art school in Halliwell will be created by joining the nearby Chalfont and Wolfenden schools.

Chalfont's head girl Naeema Valli, aged 10, said: "When people open our capsule in 100 years' time they will be amazed to find out what the past was like.

"We've all written letters so that people in the future will know what it was like to grow up in the 21st century. It's very exciting."

The capsule, which also contains a tiny treasure chest and an Ofsted report, was sealed after Bolton Council leader Bob Howarth laid the new school's foundation stone.

He was watched by chair of governors Jim Sherrington and a crowd of teachers, councillors, pupils and workers from building firm Bardsley Construction.

Cllr Howarth said: "I'm quite certain that when the children and parents come into this school they will be thrilled by the facilities that will be on offer.

"This beautiful building will be our flagship school and it will serve the local community for many years to come."

The new school, which will stand off Hibbert Street, will use futuristic technology to ensure it will be environmentally friendly as well as pupil friendly.

Rainwater will be used to flush the toilets and high-efficiency boilers and double-glazed windows will save energy.

It will also contain computer facilities, community rooms, a large hall and all-weather pitch. It will offer 104 part-time nursery places and will have disabled access.

Gwen Acton, who will become its headteacher, said: "There's a lot of love in the two old schools and this is something we want to take into the new building. It's like joining two families together."

Wolfenden's headteacher Graham Bedford said: "When people open the time capsule in the future but they will realise that the children who started at this school were lucky to go to this school."

Wolfenden school opened its doors in 1913. Chalfont opened in 1891 and celebrated its 111th birthday on Saturday. The new Valley Community Primary School will open its doors in September 2003.