WIGAN'S Director of Education, Bob Clark, has been called in to give Liverpool a helping hand.

He has been asked to take over the running of the city's education authority following a poor Ofsted report and the early retirement of their Director of Education.

The 51-years-old chief will work part-time there until the end of this month, when he goes on holiday, then full-time during September and part-time in October.

Mr Clark said: "This request from Liverpool City Council should be seen as a considerable feather in Wigan's cap.

"It is a clear recognition of the excellent work done by staff of this Education Authority, and by headteachers, teachers and school governors in schools across the borough.

"I am fully confident that my senior management staff will cope with the extra work that this will inevitably impose upon them, and that there will be no weakening at all in the service that is given to Wigan schools and their pupils."

Chairman of Wigan's education committee, Cllr Brian Wilson, said: "This appointment is very well deserved and is clear recognition of the excellent work he has done in the borough. We are sure sure that he will do a great job for Liverpool's schools and children."

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