A SECONDARY school is planning to offer evening classes in Mandarin for the first time in East Lancashire.

Moorhead Sports College in Accrington is hoping to begin a 10-week introductory course to China's official language from September.

Claire Simon, assistant head at the Queens Road West school where she is responsible for working with East Lancashire Adult Learning, said: "One of our modern languages teachers knows a Chinese woman who lives in Accrington, and she got in touch to suggest the classes.

"I thought it was a good idea, as more and more people will benefit from learning the language as the country opens up to the West, for instance for local business people."

With the rapid rise of the Chinese economy, the Asian country is set to become a major world player in coming years, and demand for learning Mandarin is on the rise, although most courses are still offered by private companies.

In September, independent Westholme School in Blackburn became the first in East Lancashire - and one of only a handful nationwide - to make the language a compulsory subject for its 11 to 14-year-old pupils, in recognition that it looks likely to become one of the most useful languages.

Mrs Simon said: "It's still early days but we are hoping that as word gets out people will take up the course.

"The classes are open to our students of course, but we'd like to open them up to the wider community.

"We have all sorts of evening classes at the school already, from modern languages to sewing, basic Internet skills to genealogy, and we're also starting line dancing and drawing courses in September."

"One aim is to encourage parents and children to learn together."

A minimum of 10 people is needed for the course. Each weekly class will cost between £3-4, and there is an opportunity to get help with the fees.

Contact Mrs Simon on 01254 231579.