A PIONEERING project which aims to raise standards in struggling schools in Blackburn and Darwen is to run for an extra two years after education bosses were told: "Carry on helping local children."

The Government has also announced that the borough's award winning Education Action Zone scheme is to get a £2million windfall.

The EAZ was set up in the summer of 1998 and covers 22 schools in Darwen and the south of Blackburn including three secondary schools and a special school.

The town hall, local businesses and organisations have worked together on the project which has won national recognition.

The scheme was originally given a three year life span and handed £3million to spend on improvements.

Partners in the project include Blackburn Rovers and the EAZ is managed by an independent forum.

Blackburn with Darwen was among the first 25 local authorities picked to run EAZs and not all have been allowed to extend the scheme. Some local education authorities have been given permission to extend providing they follow a number of conditions. Three secondary schools, Queen's Park High School, Our Lady and St John, Darwen Moorland High School and Crosshill Special School, three nursery schools and 15 primary schools make up the EAZ.

Mike Leighton is the acting head at Holy Trinity CE in Darwen, one of the schools covered by the Education Action Zone.

He said: "The EAZ have helped us in lots and lots of different ways, we are delighted they have extended the zone an extra two years.

"We look forward to working with the EAZ people over the next two years and hopefully for even longer than that."

State of the art computer technology has been installed in every school allowing them to communicate with one another and pool resources. Specialist subject teachers have also been drafted in and mentors used to help struggling pupils.

Councillor Bill Taylor, the borough's education and training chairman, has welcomed the announcement.

He said: "This is excellent news. Not all zones have been given an extension and many others have been given an extension only with conditions attached.

"We have been given an extension without any conditions, this shows that the real achievements of the EAZ have been recognised nationally."

Mike Murray, the chairman of the Blackburn with Darwen EAZ, said: "This is a testament to the quality of the partnership working that has ensured the delivery of a very effective programme to date."

Picture: Coun Bill Taylor, left, Harry Davenport, third left, and Mike Leighton, of Holy Trinity School, celebrate with pupils