MEMBERS of Westhoughton High School's Eco Club have sown the seeds of a blooming marvellous plan to achieve a special goal.

The pupils, aged between 11 and 14 years, are among the first to enter this year's Bolton in Bloom Greenfingers Challenge - a gardening and planting competition for young people in the borough.

And they intend to use the World Cup to kick-start their project.

With teacher Liz Davy and technician Joy Fowler, the children are planting a varied range of gardens and baskets. Photographs are being taken and notes compiled on the project, which is being run in the school in conjunction with its arts festival featuring the World Cup.

Liz said: "We will be trying to get our baskets into the colours of the flags of countries in the World Cup.

"But it will be difficult to do because obviously we are limited with the colours of flowers which are around."

The school also has a wildlife garden, and frogs have recently been introduced into a pond. The Greenfingers Challenge is open to individuals or groups like the pupils at Westhoughton High School. Age groups are split into two categories - up to 11 years and 12 to 18 years.

Winners will receive £50 and the runners-up £25. Entries outlining projects need to be in by Friday, June 19.

So far several schools have expressed an interest, including an after-school care group and a special school, but more entries are being sought from other groups and from individuals.

Further information is available from: The Bolton in Bloom Greenfingers Challenge, c/o People and Places Programme, Environmental Management Unit, Milton House, Wellington Street, Bolton, BL3 5DG.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.