SCHOOL pupils across Blackburn and Darwen are connecting with children in Pakistan thanks to a unique poetry project.

Called Connecting Classrooms, the scheme links school pupils in the two countries through poetry which celebrates the similarities and differences in the children’s lives.

The poetry was written by pupils from 10 schools in Blackburn with Darwen and is about the children’s sense of identity and experiences as a citizen of Blackburn.

They have been tutored and helped by published poet John Siddique.

Connecting Classrooms is run through Blackburn with Darwen Council’s SEMA (Supporting Ethnic Minority Achievement) service, with the British Council.

This is the second year of the project, which has also had links to Bangladesh.