HEADTEACHER Susan Grimshaw admits that when she saw the computer revolution starting to engulf schools she said: "Not over my dead body."

Ten years later she is a convert and an evangelist, as her pupils at Audley Infants in Blackburn lead the field in 'tiny' technology.

As she surveyed a class of five-year-olds getting to grips with the internet, she said: "When computers first came in I was against it. But it's the future for these children."

And she has guided Audley to the forefront of e-education, with interactive whiteboards in every classroom. Here, the school's 315 pupils aged from four to seven - many from under-privileged homes - can enjoy their first hands-on computer experience.

Meanwhile, mums and dads can go into school too in an effort to keep up with their high-tech offspring.

The whiteboards are the source of success. The children can 'press' giant keys and even write freehand on them. The boards tell animated stories and educate at the same time.

Class One teacher Emma Turner said: "It really enthuses them and keeps their interest. And with whiteboards you can teach a whole class at once, whereas with ordinary computers it's perhaps two at a time."

Each computer and whiteboard costs about £5,000.

Some of the money came from the Blackburn with Darwen Education Action Zone, which assists schools in urban areas like Audley, but most is self-financed.

"The governors are very supportive," Mrs Grimshaw said.

"I used to be very worried, but now I can really see the benefits," she added. "I can't even visualise where we will be in 10 years' time."