SCHOOLS in Burnley and Padiham will benefit from thousands of pounds of Government money because they have improved pupils' standards.

MP Peter Pike has welcomed the first round of school achievement awards which are based on ranking schools by the difference between their 1997 and 2000 key stage test or GCSE/GNVQ results.

Every school that left special measures in the 1999/2000 year is getting an award.

Mr Pike said: "I am proud of the schools that have won an award in Burnley and I have written to them all congratulating them."

Awards range from £2,120 for Whitegate Nursery School, Padiham, to £23,910 for Ivy Bank High School, in Burnley.

Eighteen nursery, primary and secondary schools will benefit.