ME and my shadow - that could be the theme tune for Ramsbottom pupils gaining a valuable insight into the world of work.

And just how far eager Woodhey High School children will go in their quest to "shadow" business people was well and truly illustrated when two pupils ended up . . . in Poland!

The "work shadow" initiative was organised by Bolton Bury Training and Enterprise Council (TEC) in a joint venture with Bury Education 2000.

The project involves 11-14 year-olds shadowing either their parents or close family members during their working day.

The first day, pupils watch and talk to employers and gather information on the company and job.

Second day activities involves project work back at the school.

Ben Cotter and Michael Hitchen from Woodhey High School were in pole position when they shadowed Ben's father, Michael, at Halo Polska's headquarters in Poland.

The idea of the project is to keep the experience for the students as true to working life as possible.

And although the visit to Poland was unusual for the boys, it was just another working day for Mr Cotter.

Other shadowing experiences involved a visit to Portsmouth Naval Base, Granada Studios and other blue-chip companies.

All students were required to bring back memorabilia of the project. And the most unusual must be bladder stones from a dog, after one student shadowed an operation at the vets.

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