STUDENTS painted a colourful picture of what life was like at Philips High School when the borough's First Citizen paid a visit.

The Mayor of Bury, Coun Barry Briggs, met pupils and staff at the Whitefield school and was given a tour of the building.

He popped into a variety of lessons, including art, ICT, modern languages and maths.

This was the first time Coun Briggs had visited the school in Higher Lane, although he was the special guest at their prize-giving evening in November, which was held at Radcliffe Civic Suite.

Headteacher Mr Chris Trees said: "He attended our certificates evening and we invited him back to see what the school that he was giving prizes for was like. He was accompanied by some of the school governors and the head boy, head girl and their deputies.

"He was very complimentary and we discussed how the school was used after- hours as a sports facility for the wider community. We were very much a pioneer project ten years ago and it seems councillors favour this as the way forward for schools to take."