GIRLS at Bury Grammar were fired up to find out what professional artist Don McKinlay was producing in their school pottery kiln.

And after pupils spent weeks puzzling over a series of instructions left in one of their art rooms, the answer was finally delivered.

The Rossendale painter and sculptor had been commissioned to produce a ceramic baby Jesus for Liverpool's Anglican cathedral.

Anxious for an oven in which to fire the nativity piece, he reached an agreement with fellow Manchester Academy of Fine Arts member and school head of art Miss Janina Cebertowicz.

In exchange, art club members were given a talk on his completed work.

Four babies were made in all, with improvements made on each occasion to arrive at the finished piece.

Don was asked to produce his design after a competition to replace the original, destroyed by vandals some 200 years ago.

Art club member Susan Tarrier (14) said: "It was a great chance for us to see something special created, knowing that it is a work of art that could last for hundreds of years."

Glazed and gilded, the model will now take pride of place alongside the cathedral's Della Robbia Madonna.

Art teacher Mrs Eileen Schofield took responsibility for the firing, which lasted a full seven weeks.

Mrs Schofield said: "We are very fortunate to have links with Don, who lives locally and is a superb painter and sculptor.

"What was amazing about the whole project was that we were provided with a lesson for life.

"In producing a total of four babies he showed us that he was prepared to take risks and in doing so accepted success or failure."