CHILDREN toured three holy buildings in a bid to help them relate to their friends from different religions.

The five youngsters from a summer and after-school club volunteered to visit a Sikh Temple, a church and a mosque.

Lucas Martin, 10, Dexter Slater, eight, Callum Kirkbride, 10, Andrew Hinnigan, 10, and Calvin Lau, eight, attend Out of School Experience in Blackburn.

They were given the opportunity to explore Gudwara Sikh Temple, in Culshaw Street, speak to the Rev Geoff Townsend at the United Reformed Church, Westbury Gardens, and meet Imaan Moulana Mohammed Munir of Markazi Mosque, Balaclava Street.

The trip, usually aimed at adults, was led by Sadiq Patel, a faith and cohesion development officer for Blackburn with Darwen Council for Voluntary Service.

This was first trip of its kind for the Out of School Experience and is something the school's organisers would do again.

Amy Williams, deputy manager and trips and outings co-ordinator at its Adelaide House base, said: "We celebrate the major religious festivals, of Christmas, Divali and Eid, so that all the children get to learn about these different occasions.

"Parents of children at the club often come in to give demonstrations, such as henna painting, or bring samples of the food from their culture.

"But this doesn't give the children the full experience of different religions.

"The tour was another way the children could learn about different religions. And it's a way youngsters can relate to their friends with different religions more.

"They found the mosque the most interesting. The children washed their feet then joined in with prayers.

"This was the first time we have had a trip like this and we would do it again.

"We would also consider taking pre-school children and other after-school clubs on such trips.

"It is important for the children to learn about different religions and culture; it helps them understand their backgrounds and also that regardless of ethnicity, we are all the same."