YOUNGSTERS at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy have been showing their enterprising streak as they launched 'Knapsacks of Hope and Sackful of Compliments'.

Emily Spear and Maisie Holden, both 13, came up with the idea as part of the school's annual Stock the Shop project.

The school,which prides itself on instilling pupils with an entrepreneurial spirit, encourages youngsters in Year 8 to think of a viable business idea where they can sell the items in the school shop.

The pupils undertake market research, write a business plan and create a prototype; they then pitch the idea to teachers and other pupils in the school chamber which provides funding for the successful projects.

Emily and Maisie are just one of seven successful teams who will get industry advice over the summer from the retail advisor at Blackburn-based Graham and Brown wallcoverings, and will then see their products sold in the school shop in September.

The 'Knapsacks of Hope' contain little messages of congratulations, good luck and sympathy while the 'Sackful of Compliments' contains lots of little sentences to lift the spirits. "There's a rock and a message 'to give you strength' and a flower 'to help you blossom and grow'," said Emily, who lives in Darwen.

"It's aimed mainly at the older generation, they are very meaningful, they are very nice," she said.

Maisie added: "In the sacks there are messages including 'shine like the star you are. You are inspiring'. It did not take us that long, we came up with some of the words and also found some of the messages."

Michelle Billington, assistant principal, said: "We make it so that it's exactly as it would be for real. We do it all properly to ensure it's a sustainable business idea."

Other winning ideas this year include handmade cards, jewellery and toys for dogs. A previous team created Just Mallows - chocolate-filled marshmallows - which was successful for many years and received investment from millionaire and Dragons' Den star Peter Jones.

*The knapsacks will be available from the school shop for £1.85.