IT was the first time a British Prime Minister had visited Blackburn since Harold Wilson travelled to the town in 1975.

The foyer of Our Lady and St John's RC High School was buzzing with the news that Tony Blair was a mere five minutes away on the M65.

His progress along the motorway crackled over the radios of the undercover police and security guards who had cordoned off the North Road school.

He was almost here - but the next five minutes seemed like an awfully long wait.

And add the fact Mr Blair was to be accompanied on his visit by Education Secretary David Blunkett and Home Secretary Jack Straw, as Blackburn MP, and everyone realised this would be a very special day indeed.

But while most waited anxiously and excitedly for the first glimpse of the PM, news of his progress filled others with pure fear - especially head girl and Boy Lisa Grogan and Alastair Eccles, who were to greet Mr Blair at the school gates.

"I was absolutely dreading it in a way," said Lisa ,16. "I was really nervous, especially as I knew the whole school was watching, but I'm really pleased with the way everything went and feel very honoured. It's not something that's going to happen to me again. My mum couldn't believe it when I told her."

Alastair added: "The day has gone very quickly but I'm very pleased with the way it went. I was nervous but Mr Blair was very, very nice. He's just an ordinary person when you meet him." Other pupils who met Mr Blair face-to-face couldn't make up their mind about his height.

James Booth, 12, was part of a group of children involved in a new technology presentation at the school.

They showed the premier how new whiteboard technology enabled them to link up with engineers at British Aerospace, Samlesbury, and design their own aircraft by working machinery there.

James said of the Prime Minister: "He was a lot taller than I thought he would be and he came over and shook my hand. We were all very nervous but he was so nice he calmed us all down."

But school pal George White, 14, disagreed: "He was shorter than I thought he'd be."

Emma Corkin, 15, and Lauren Blake, 14, presented Mr Blair with a brass cannon they had made with the help of school technician Frank Walsh.

Emma bubbled: "He seemed really pleased with the present and I'm going to be watching the television now to see if he puts it in Number 10. I can't believe we've met him and he was sitting in this room with us. It was brilliant."

Marisa Lonigro, 14, showed Mr Blunkett how to write a name on the whiteboard with high-tech pens. "I was giving him a running commentary on what was happening because he couldn't see and when it had finished he asked me to show him how to write on the board. I'll be having that printed out!"

Lauren Bradley, 12, was one of the youngest children to take part in the presentation.

She said: "When I told my family and friends I was going to meet the Prime Minister they didn't believe me but when it was in the paper they were really jealous. I couldn't sleep the night before."

And the children were not the only ones pleased to get the chance to meet Mr Blair.

Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council Malcolm Doherty said the borough had scored a "treble whammy" getting the three cabinet ministers to visit the town.

He said: "It's been quite something and I was pleased to hear Mr Blair being so positive about Blackburn and the education action zone."

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