PUPILS from Bury will pit their wits against each other tomorrow at the start of 'Challenge Plus.'

Around 120 year 10 students from high schools around the borough will take part in a series of challenges and activities at Bury Town Hall.

Bury's education officer Harold Williams said: "Challenge Plus has proved to be extremely popular in the past and I'm sure the students involved this time will find it a testing but at the same time enjoyable experience.

"Many of those taking part will be pleased and maybe even a little surprised at their own skill, resilience and adaptability."

Organisers have put together a series of simulations which will place the young people in new situations to see how they cope and react.

Guest speaker at the event will be the Royal National Institute for the Deaf People's personnel manager in the north, Giles Robinson, who will also set pupils his own challenge.

The event has been supported by Scott Hurd, Services for Education and Industry, and will include an official welcome by Bury's director of personal and community services, Sandy Paterson.

Later, young participants will be thrust into a business setting to tackle another set of tasks, and all those taking part will receive a record of achievement validated by Warwick University.

Bury education committee chairman, Cllr David Ryder, said: "Initiatives like this help to broaden the outlook of our young citizens of the future and prepare them not only for the workplace when they leave school, but in society in general."

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