CHILDREN at a Bury primary school were in a class of their own when they helped launch an information networking project.

Pupils at St Thomas's CE Primary were able to harness information technology to the full when they took part in a video link-up with their counterparts at a Horwich school.

Tuesday's event officially marked the fact dozens of schools in both Bury and Bolton are now connected to the Internet.

The Bolton and Bury Education Business Partnership (EBP) is promoting the schools information technology networking project, along with Campus World, BT's enhanced information and communication system for schools.

Through a hi-tech video-conferencing link at St Thomas's, Bury pupils were able to hook up to Claypool Primary in Horwich - allowing them to see each other and communicate.

It was an exciting and fascinating event for both schools and one that certainly thrilled the children.

Funding has been provided by Bolton Bury Training and Enterprise Council (TEC) to connect schools to the Internet.

The project provides access to these technologies at a time when school budgets are restricted.

The project, funded by the Government's Single Regeneration Budget and sponsorship money from BT and Toyota, will have 43 schools in Bury and Bolton connected to the Internet by the end of this year.

It encourages participation of schools in the use of modern communication technologies such as e-mail, the use of databases, networking and video-conferencing.

Mr Leroy Taylor, headteacher at St Thomas's, said the video-conferencing facility would help the school establish links both in the UK and abroad.

"One of our staff has links with a school in France and video-conferencing means we can communicate with other children on the Continent," he said.

"This will result in a whole array of advantages, such as learning about other children's lifestyles."

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