TWO schoolchildren have won an award to publish their own story about what it is like to have physical disabilities and go to a mainstream school.

Nayab Hussein, 12 and Habeeba Mulla, 13, have won a special cash award worth more than £7,000 to write a book.

Nayab and Habeeba, who go to Witton Park County High, Buncer Lane, Blackburn, plan to write the work about two girls with physical disabilities who go to a mainstream school and through their experiences educate pupils and staff about equality..

The girls will start their literary quest by researching children's books to establish what is already available.

They will then undertake a short writing course to learn new skills in creative writing and will even launch a schools competition to win the chance to illustrate the book.

The Whizz-Kidz No Limits Millennium Award Scheme, which granted the award, will also help the girls find locally-based expertise in the form of writers and publishers who can lend their support to the project and ensure the finished product is as successful as possible.

Once produced they will promote their book through their school, the web, posters and word of mouth and hope it will be used by local schools, libraries and youth organisations.

Educational consultant Diana Jenkins, a panellist on the award committee, said: "We were extremely impressed with the enthusiasm and commitment that went into Habeeba and Nayab's project applications and we are delighted that they have been successful.

"They have a great passion for reading and are very aware of the need for more fiction books featuring disabled characters.

"I look forward to seeing the impact their projects will have on the local community and the personal benefit it will bring."

Witton Park High School also held it's annual awards evening this month. Headteacher John Gosling said that nearly 60 per cent of the pupils who took their GCSE's in June gained five a more passes at grade A*-C.

And he said the school's recent Ofsted Inspection praised the school for its 'team effort', 'good teaching and warm sense of community'.

He made the announcement to parents of former Year 11 pupils in the school's packed South Hall and praised the students and teachers for their hard work. He said they were an able year group who had an excellent collective attitude to school and their studies.

The certificates were presented by former student and Blackburn dental surgeon Shabirakhtar Patel.

Headteacher's Award: Lucy Fisher, Anisa Patel, Rachel Waywell, Sameena Zia, Rukhsana Deshmukh. Governors' Award: Alexander Towneley, Sarah Talbot, Latanya Hodgkinson, Iain Bould, Zafer Mulla. Science Award: Rukhsana Deshmukh, Zafer Mulla. Attendance: Rukhsana Deshmukh.