CHILDREN from Darwen are weather-watching as part of a joint project with a school in the south of England.

In a 12-month Lottery-funded scheme with Groundwork Blackburn and Darwen-based Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings Ltd, St Joseph's Primary School pupils have measured wind and rainfall for comparison with the weather in Hertfordshire where Woodside Primary School, Goffs Oak, has been conducting a similar task. Project co-ordinator Joanna Baker, from Groundwork, said: "Darwen was well-known for cotton, paper and paint because all the processes require a lot of water and Darwen is very wet. The weather has been a discerning factor in the prosperity of Darwen, bringing the factories here. Even now, Akzo Nobel relies on rainwater for certain processes.

"We aim to show year-three children the difference in weather across the UK and to highlight how much more rainier it is up here than further south.

The pupils at Woodside Primary will take the same measurements over three weeks and the information will be swapped weekly. Both schools are near the top of a hill although St Joseph's is higher. In addition, the same class will be looking at maps of their locality and of Goffs Oak's locality to compare features. They will also look at old maps of Darwen to see how it has changed over the years and will write to the children at Woodside to find out what it is like where they live."

Last month, Darwen had a rainfall average of 68mm whereas Hertfordshire had 51mm. And Darwen's average temperature was 8C compared to 9.6C in Herts.

Year four and six children have been looking at energy and waste use at the Akzo Nobel factory and the reception class have been colour-mixing. Next week year two will look at colours and visit Akzo Nobel.

The project, called The Past On Your Doorstep, The Future in Your Hands, was set up to boost history, geography, numeracy and literacy skills. Environmental group Groundwork was given £49,985 of Lottery cash to set up the scheme.