THE final curtain came down on Peace & Harmony - Leigh Education Action Zone's second annual arts and writing venture -- as the stunning exhibition at Leigh Library was dismantled.

It has been hailed as 'a magnificent achievement' -- a credit to the talent and imagination of young people in EAZ schools.

Mayor Geoffrey Roberts, who opened the exhibition, spoke of the unquestioned quality of work which has helped to raise attainment in arts and writing.

He added: "Working with artists and teachers, pupils have been taught to appreciate the links between the artistic and writing process that is planning, drafting, revising and producing the end product.

"That end product is breathtaking."

Two schools who featured in the successful 2001 project -- Hindley Green J&I and St Thomas -- sustained it for a second year because they felt it had made such a major impact on pupils.

And a dazzling display of paintings from students at St Thomas is still on show -- in an exclusive exhibition in Bedford Parish Church. Some 60 children, working with Leigh artist Bryan Edmondson, took part, producing in four exhilarating months a startling series of pictures depicting 'Our school and the community in which we live.'

The church exhibition runs until June 28.

St Thomas's will sustain the project for a third year in 2003 -- and next year's main programme is already in the planning.

A further 10 EAZ schools will be involved, the project entitled Walk awhile in my shoes.

The 10 new schools will be St Peter's Infants, St Joseph's RC, St Peter's CE Junior, Leigh CE Infants, St Gabriel's, Atherton Two Porches, Leigh Central, Atherton Green Hall, Higher Folds and Leigh St John's Infants.