EDUCATION chiefs and football stars were on hand to help launch Blackburn with Darwen Council's Maths Year 2000 initiative.

Blackburn Rovers players Lee Carsley and Jeff Kenna, welcomed school children and delegates to the authority's launch conference at Ewood Park yesterday.

The event was designed to publicise the initiative which aims to promote greater understanding of the teaching and learning of maths.

Chairman of the council's education and training committee Bill Taylor and director of education and training Mark Pattison, joined delegates and speakers included assistant director of the local education authority in Stoke-on-Trent Bob Sawyer.

Bosses at BAe Systems, Samlesbury, have already pledged their support and are organising a number of classroom projects for teachers to use.

At the launch are Coun Bill Taylor (right), with Lee Carsley, Jeff Kenna and Ashleigh Primary School, Darwen, pupils (from left) Jade Halliwell, Samantha Greenwood, Ashley Neild and Adam Halliwell.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.