FOUR Tottington High pupils are to embark on a trip of a lifetime to set the scene for Bury's ambitious Millennium project.

The girls found out this week that they will travel to Woodbury, USA, in the early summer. Together they will research and retrace the steps of the remarkable journey of Bury pioneer, Mr Henry Wood, who founded a Quaker colony in America more than 300 years ago.

He sailed to the USA in 1682 with his family to escape religious persecution and later founded a settlement on the banks of the River Delaware and named it Woodbury.

Pupils Amy Senogles of Newcombe Drive, Holcombe Brook, Nicola Williams of Holly Street, Tottington, Jennifer Cliff of Moorside, Tottington and Laura Lenaughan of Knowsley Road, Ainsworth, all aged 13, beat off intense competition from around 30 fellow pupils. They were divided into groups to research the history of their school - and the prize was a trip to Woodbury.

Mr Chris Newton, who along with fellow teacher Mr Kelvin Platt co-ordinated the competition, said: "All the projects were superb, and very well done to a very high and professional level. The pupils were simply set the task and given two weeks to complete it with no help from the school." Mr Newton, added: "The group showed they had the research, IT and interviewing skills they will need in Woodbury."

The friends will spend at least two weeks in America tracing the history of the Wood family. Their journey will be a forerunner to the town's year 2000 celebrations, when dozens of young people from the borough accompanied by project leader Mr Melvin Magnall, of Shuttleworth, will sail to Woodbury.

Mr Magnall said: "The girls will be finding out all they can about the Wood family from their lives in Tottington to their travels to America."

The girls will live free of charge with families in Woodbury.

Once completed the girls' research will be put on the internet.

Earlier this month the ambitious project to mark the 21st century suffered a blow when the Millennium Commission refused to part fund it.

"We are going to fund the project ourselves and are looking into various grant schemes and trusts," said Mr Magnall, who although angry with the decision, promised to battle on.

Mr Tom Cooley, deputy head of the school said: "We are extremely honoured to be a part of the project which is so unique and imaginative.

"It is a great privilege for the students who will be doing their part to mark the Millennium."

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