A GROUP of schoolchildren in Darwen are learning to communicate with deaf people and those who are hard of hearing by learning how to do sign language.

The Year Six pupils from Holy Trinity Primary School, Bank Top, are busy practising for a school performance next Tuesday, ahead of National Deaf Awareness Week.

They have been learning to 'sign' two songs - 'Imagine', by John Lennon, and 'Something Inside So Strong' - for the past six weeks and will perform to their schoolfriends in a morning assembly.

Their involvement in signing began after the school started to hold sign language courses at lunchtimes for those who wanted to learn the technique.

Headteacher Keith McDonald said: "We have been doing sign language courses for children during the last 12 months and we have taken them to a higher level now.

"Due to our links with the Deaf Society we decided to do a performance to help them out.

"It was organised by the assistant head in advance of them performing in Darwen town centre in a couple of weeks for Deaf Awareness Week.

"They have been practising hard twice a week for this."