CHILDREN at a Blackburn primary school donned masks and snorkels for a visit from their new partners.

Roman Road Primary School has teamed up with school friend Apeks diving equipment manufacturers to teach the children more about the business world.

Headteacher Steve Robinson said he was thrilled to make the new link with the nearby Neptune Way firm and hoped the company would get the children involved at all levels.

He said: "We are going to take the seven to 11 year old children there on visits so they can see the whole process from the initial ideas and drawings to manufacturing and marketing.

"It's going to be a big help for us with out design and technology curriculum teaching. The children will be able to see what it's like for real."

Beryl Martin, of Blackburn Partnership, said the scheme had been very successful during the last two years and 48 of the 52 schools in the borough now had school friends.