PUPILS from a Rossendale school will travel to Downing Street tomorrow to meet pop stars and government ministers as a celebration of their charity work.

Young representatives from Haslingden High School, Broadway, will join around 60 other young people from schools throughout the UK for the 2004 G-Nation Awards.

Chart toppers Liberty X will be at the event along with T4 presenter Miquita Oliver to present the awards at the national youth initiative -- Giving Nation.

The event is backed by Citizenship Foundation, an independent charity that aims to empower youngsters to engage in the community through education about the law, democracy and society.

After a light lunch at Downing Street with speeches and praise by David Milliband, Fiona Mactaggart and John Healey, the pupils will receive their prizes before taking a ride on the British Airways London Eye to round the day off.

Year 12 pupils Tom Eastwood, Laura Nuttall and Darren Wilkinson will represent the school.

They helped to raise £3,000 for charities including Rossendale Hospice, RSPCA, Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, the Bethany orphanage appeal in Tanzania and sponsoring a child in India through WorldVision.

Headteacher Eve Challinger said: "It's a fantastic accolade for the school to be invited to 11 Downing Street. All the pupils at the school have been involved in some way in helping to raise the money over the past year.

"Raising money is an important part of school life here as it's about the students being responsible citizens and helping others that aren't as well off as them."

Each school attending the awards submitted a charity diary at the end of the summer term, which was then judged by region.

The winning schools from each region, and other outstanding entries, will collect prizes of up to £1,000. And one school will be announced overall winner of a once in a lifetime journey to an overseas project in India, with Save the Children in February.

Chorley Liberty X band member Kevin Simm said: "We are very happy that we have been given the opportunity to be involved with G-Nation. It's a great campaign that really talks to young people on their level.

"We have been so impressed by the participants' achievements and are happy to be able to present them with their awards."