WORKMEN at a former technical school are offering people the chance to gather mementos from the building before they are thrown out.

Tables and chairs in good condition were left in Darwen Technical School when it closed and as the classrooms are cleared out to make way for a new development, the people behind the project are looking for individuals or charities who may want them.

Blackboards, stools and sinks are also in the building.

A number of people have already spoken to workmen about taking furniture from the Union Street building for sentimental reasons and for practical use.

Aaron Pym, one of the team currently working on the site said he has been surprised by the level of interest.

"I did not know the building is as important to the people of Darwen as it is," he said.

"People have been coming up to me all the time asking what we are doing and how long it will be, they are very interested."

Aaron and his colleagues moved into the school on January 2 after the building was bought by American firm Berbury International who are looking to refurbish the site and convert it into high-tech office accommodation.

It is hoped the building will then be leased on to another company.

The Knott Street entrance and a back room which will be used as an architects office have been sandblasted and the rest of the building will be done.

It is hoped all the work will be done by April of this year.

Anyone hoping to grab a memento from the Technical School should go to the bottom entrance on Union Street on Friday morning and ask for Aaron Pym.