"YOU have to be in to win it," and two schools who certainly were received superb prizes in our draw for those taking part in our local history project.

Students at a Blackburn high school now have a helping hand in finding their way though further and higher education courses and towards careers, and primary school pupils in Rossendale have fun computer programmes designed to boost basic skills.

A total of more than £300 worth of computer software was presented to the primary and secondary school selected at random from the 32 who ordered our material "East Lancashire from the Stone Age to the Space Age" for delivery during the first week of October.

Secondary winners, Pleckgate High School, were thrilled with their prize of a year's subscription to "UK Course Discover" CD roms produced by ECCTIS 2000 and worth £250. These will be updated five times over the next 12 months to give students the very latest information on more than 10,000 university and college courses throughout the country.

Mike Emery, careers teacher at the school, is already familiar with the material and is delighted that the school now has its own copy. "Students have had to go out of school to use the programme at the careers service offices," he said. "Having access to this extremely valuable information in school will make it much easier for our students to plan future careers and education."

Haslingden County Primary School received a selection of software suitable for children throughout the age ranges, helping to improve skills in reading, writing, maths and creative activities as well as information technology.

The three CD roms from Dorling Kindersley's Learning Ladder and "Starting to Read" from Europress are also designed for use by parents and children at home, giving youngsters a head start and reinforcing classroom activities.

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