A LANCASTER school is bidding for specialist status to become a driving force of the local arts scene - but it needs £50,000.

Central Lancaster High School wants to become a Visual and Performing Arts college to bring more art facilities and courses to the area.

The school, which would gain £500,000 over four years from the Government, hopes to build an editing suite and a recording studio and evening classes.

Pupils and staff have been getting into the stride of fund-raising and have already collected £10,000 through raffles and activity days.

The school, which has received an Artsmark gold award, now wants local businesses to jump on board and sponsor it.

"The fund-raising has been hard, but the exciting bit is how much the school will change as a result of the opportunities that will be on offer," says head teacher Jon Wright.

"Arts status will be a recognition of the quality of the work we do rather than changing what we do, and the funding will help us provide more opportunities."

He says extra classes and courses will give kids something to do out of school hours.

"We already team up with dance, theatre and music groups which educates the children but the art status and money will us to further our work in the community.

"The pupils already take some of their performances to theatres for the community to enjoy but we hope we will be able to make a regular programme of events."

The school is hoping to secure specialist status by next March and Mr Wright adds: "We want to become a school that opens weekends and evenings and attracts people in the local community young and old to take up art-related courses."