SCHOOLCHILDREN are set to take over The Mall in Blackburn today as part of an initiative aimed at giving them first hand experience of retail.

Year six children from St Paul’s RC Primary School in Blackburn will shadow The Mall’s management team as part of its Take Over Day.

The initiative, supported by the Office of Children’s Commissioner, will give the youngsters the chance to see the world of retail first hand and share their ideas.

They will work alongside general manager Loraine Jones, operations manager Andrew Smith, soft services manager Ronnie O’Keeffe, site health and safety co-ordinator Maggie Koziol and marketing manager Laura Diffey.

Following the tour of the service area, control room and offices the children will be tasked with presenting ideas that could improve operations before being presented with certificates and goody bags.

Loraine Jones, general manager, said: “I am a firm believer that children should get the chance to learn outside the classroom and see, first hand, the world of work whenever possible.