BOLTON pupils will raise the rafters during an unusual lesson - in roofing!

Fifty children from the Withins High school will mingle with local builders and contractors at a special exhibition in the town tomorrow.

And the young crew will get a chance to learn the skills of slating and tiling, as well as cladding and sheeting.

Their work will be checked out by trainees from Bolton College who are studying NVQs in different roofing techniques.

Skills

Tim Taylor, senior co-ordinator of Bolton College, said: "People do not realise the skills involved in being a roofer.

"You can make a career out of it and not just by working on the roof. We train buyers and sales people as well."

The pioneering one-day programme will form part of an exhibition organised by the North West Regional Association of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, to be held at the Jarvis International Hotel in Blackrod.

But the children's roofing lesson has a serious side, as construction bosses struggle to recruit local youngsters into the building industry.

While the construction industry is Britain's biggest, there is a dramatic shortfall in the number of people being taken on, particularly in the roofing where only 200 join each year, instead of 2,000.

NFRC president Tony McCarthy said: "The opportunities are open to young people from all walks of life who wish to proceed either as a tradesman or in administration or management.

"Many tradesmen have progressed to running their own companies with considerable success."

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