AN award winning school's new library is netting more readers than ever before.

The traditional wooden shelves at Hindsford C of E Primary School have been swept away to make way for a designer work of art.

The new creation, alive with fish conceived by pupils and crafted by some of the best metalsmiths in the area, is proving a big hit.

Last year the Lodge Road school jumped at the chance to bid for money from the Government's Single Regeneration Budget which aims to help raise standards in education, and were lucky to win money for the project.

Head teacher, Mrs Lindsey Apps, said: "We thought a good way of raising standards and encouraging more children into the library to read and to work on the computers was to make it a more attractive environment. It has worked out incredibly well."

The school invited Salford-based steel sculptor Noah Rose and brass and copper specialist Salina Somalya to come into school and work with the children on designs.

The whole thing took nine months to complete with the artists working for three months on the piece.

Mrs Apps said: "The School Council helped to design the piece so now when the children go into the library they can spot and point out the pieces that they have helped to create. There is a real sense of ownership."

HIndsford Primary has a history of excellence in the arts. It recently became the first primary school in Wigan to receive the coveted Artsmark Award.

The Mayor, Cllr Geoff Roberts, was at the unveiling ceremony today, Thursday.