CELEBRITIES from sport and entertainment lent their support when Bury C of E High School launched a high-profile Sports Hall Appeal on Wednesday (July 3).

Guests at the event were actress Nikki Sanderson, Coronation Street's Candice, mountain bike champion Tim Morris, Bury FC players Steve Gunby and Lee Connell and ex-pupil and Olympian Barrie Kelly.

They were given details of the school's plans for a new £1.16 million sports hall by headteacher Mr Phil Grady.

And the VIPs endorsed the school's appeal to raise £125,000 which is the ten per cent contribution Bury C of E has to find under the terms of the Government grant.

At the launch, Mr Grady explained to parents that the existing gymnasium no longer fulfilled the school's needs.

"It was built in the 1960s before the National Curriculum, before Bury Church became a comprehensive school and at a time when the school had only 450 pupils. It is no longer adequate for sports education in the 21st century."

The school applied for funding for a sports hall last September and heard just before Christmas that the Government was prepared to grant 90 per cent of the £1.16 million cost, provided Bury C of E could come up with the remaining 10 per cent.

Mr Grady added: "This evening was the launch of our appeal to parents and we really hope that they will respond generously in order to provide quality sports provision for their children and future generations of Bury Church pupils.

"We shall also be appealing to businesses, sporting organisations and charities and we are confident that we shall succeed in raising our 10 per cent, just as we succeeded in raising our target for the Millennium Technology Appeal five years ago."

Further information about the appeal can be obtained by ringing or writing to the school or accessing the appeal web site by logging on to www.burychurchsport.org.uk.