A WRITING and drama project has gripped pupils at Westleigh St Paul's.

They are involved in the pilot programme - initiated by Leigh Education Action Zone and Low Hall headteacher Jim Holian - which uncovers a dastardly plot to slap a supermarket on the school playing fields.

Happily, it is only make believe, as the exciting project, which runs June 4-29, provides writing opportunities for a range of realistic purposes and audiences.

The children are taking an active part in the drama, which encompasses some literacy hours, and is planned using literacy objectives.

The story begins as year five pupils set up Westleigh Heritage Service to create a quarterly magazine, based upon the Fast Forward magazine produced by Wigan Heritage Service.

The magazine contains reports, articles and letters concerning the history of Westleigh. Crucially, the next edition will investigate how the playing fields that surround the school have been used in the past. The company (WHS) will have two consultants, Mrs Sumner, an ex-teacher who has local history knowledge, and class teacher Mel Holyoak.

They will be visited by a local businessman - Jim Holian in disguise - who wishes to use the magazine in surrounding areas to promote Westleigh. Later, however, the class receives video evidence of the suspicious businessmen showing a surveyor around the school playing fields.

It also receives a letter from a large supermarket chain, thanking it for the magazine, which inspired the choice of location, and detailing a payment of £5,000 made to the businessman.

The police are informed.

When the businessman visits school to report to the company how he has used the magazine to promote Westleigh, showing evidence of people moving house to live in the area, the children confront him with evidence of deceit.

The plot thickens.

The project has delighted Leigh EAZ advisors. It has developed writing forms including persuasive writing reports and articles.