A DESERTED Palace of Westminster opened its doors to children and teachers from Earby Primary School who were in the capital on a four-day visit.

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice arranged for the centre of government to be opened especially for the 44 youngsters.

It is normally closed to the public in the afternoons during the Parliamentary recess.

"The children were magnificent," said Mr Prentice. "They were inquisitive and clearly enjoyed having the run of the place completely uninterrupted by others." The MP added: "When I go round the building it is impossible not to sense the history of the place.

"I can point to all the grisly spots where people were assassinated, tried, condemned to death and so on.

"When I told the Earby kids, gathered in the ancient and historic Westminster Hall, that Oliver Cromwell's head was stuck on a pole and left in the rafters for 20 years, there was a chorus of very loud gasps.

"That sort of gruesome fact goes down a treat with ten year olds."

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