CHILDREN are set for a double education boost, just weeks before they break up for the summer holidays.

Pupils at Avondale County Primary School, in Durham Road, Darwen, will be put in the driving seat when members of the Parents and Teachers Association unveil the latest addition to the school's facilities.

At a cost of £5,300, the egistered 15-seater minibus, which comes complete with the school's logo, will be used for school outings and other extra-curricula activities.

The swimming team, who recently finished 10th out of 24 schools in a national competition at Sheffield's Pond's Forge Olympic Arena, will be one of the first to benefit from the new set of wheeels, which will take them to their weekly training session.

Headteacher Geoff Tennant, delighted at the purchase, said: "It's excellent. It's not very often you get a primary school having its own bus. I'm sure we must be one of the only ones, if not the only school in Darwen to have such a thing.

"And it looks really good. The garage has done a wonderful job on it and put on our very own logo."

But the costly addition to the school means the PTA faces a tough task as the vehicle was bought using school funds on condition the group paid back the money. So efforts will now concentrate on raising the money, together with the first year's insurance costs of £1,242.

Mr Tennant said: "We are really pleased to have bought it and hopefully all the PTA's money raising efforts will now go towards paying back the school back."

The bus was today being officially handed over to the school at a presentation ceremony.

On top of the new minibus, lucky winners at the school's annual awards ceremony next week are set for a cash boost.

Pupils who receive awards for outstanding and improved work have been promised a £20 gift voucher for a major high street store after sponsors of the event, the Cheshire Building Society, donated £400 to the school.

Mr Tennant said: "This will be the first time we will have had money to give to the children to reward them for their work."

The award ceremony is due to take place at 10.15am on Friday next, July 20.