YOUNGSTERS dressed a dummy and stripped a gearbox as pupils from across East Lancashire got to grips with the real world of work.

Schools in Blackburn and Brierfield are involved in roadshows designed to give the youngsters a taste of what to expect when they leave the classroom.

The modern apprenticeship events are being run at Witton Park High School and at Mansfield High by the Schools Partnership Initiative - a group made up of local work-based learning providers - and the Lancashire Learning and Skills Council, which is responsible for post-16 education in the county.

Sajid Motiwala, a member of the Initiative, said: "The intention of the roadshows is to give pupils a real taste of life as an apprentice.

"They have the opportunity of talking with apprentices themselves about jobs and employment opportunities, and also get to see the job in action.

"The roadshaw is now in its third year and we continuously get positive feedback from the pupils."

Youngsters from five schools, Walshaw, Barden, Edge End, Mansfield and Walton, took part in the Brierfield event.

They saw a variety of occupations, including a motor vehicle apprentice taking apart a gearbox, a construction trainee building a wall - and a retail apprentice dressing and undressing a dummy.

Michelle Thompson, head of year 11, said: "It was an exciting opportunity and hopefully we can all benefit from it."

The second roadshow will be held at Witton Park High School on Thursday.