A TOWERING Totem Pole has brought a touch of native American culture to a Bolton high school.

Artistic youngsters have spent the summer creating the distinctive sculpture in the grounds of Ladybridge High Schools farm.

It was officially unveiled this week.

Artist Oliver Wothers, who worked on the project, said: "It looks wonderful. We had a basic outline of a sculpture and took it from there."The creation is the result of six weeks work by a group of 15 children aged from 11 to 15-years-old in a project sponsored by the youth service Connexions and co-ordinated by artists from community based organisation Cool Canvas.

It is made out of an old telegraph pole and is now a permanent feature in the working farm, which is situated in the grounds of the high school. "It was the childrens own work," said Mr Wothers. " I, together with another artist Tamsin Harding, simply guided them and the ideas just kept coming and the group carved in different farm animals.

"With the help of Tamsin, the group melted plastic bags and put pictures of animals on it for a flag for the top which is the effect of a boat sail."