MORE than 50 businesses turned up for the launch of a school's bid to become the second specialist college in Burnley.

Habergham High School, Kiddrow Lane, is aiming for specialist college status in science and engineering, a status which would bring with it an extra £650,000 in government cash.

Last year Ivy Bank became one of only 18 schools in the country providing a focus for entrepreneurial excellence.

Yesterday Habergham took the first step towards its bid with a business breakfast event at Turf Moor to encourage local businesses and industry to come forward with sponsorship.

Schools aiming for specialist status in a subject area must secure £50,000 funding in sponsorship and provide a four-year plan to the government.

If the bid is successful the school, which has more than 1,100 students, will receive a lump sum which can be used to develop buildings, in Habergham's case science and technology labs, and then increased money over the next four years. Other subjects will continue to be taught at the school in line with the National Curriculum.

The event featured a range of presentations from students from Year 7 to Sixth Form, including stands showing the history of flight and space travel and rocket science.

There were also visits by former Habergham pupil John Getty, chairman of PDS Engineering in Nelson, and Burnley MP Peter Pike.

Mr Getty was part of the engineering team behind the Thrust SSC which became the fastest vehicle ever when it broke the 850 mph speed barrier in Arizona's Black Rock Desert.

PDS has also worked on Richard Branson's hot-air balloon exploits and is also working with the North West's own rocket man Steve Bennett

Mr Getty said: "The event was wonderful. This is the future of education and we need children educated in fields like science and technology to make this country great again. It's a really worthy venture."

Any company which wants to find out more about the bid should call Mr Smith or Gordon Allison at the school on 01282 775131.