GOVERNMENT education minister Ivan Lewis was in Hindley on Monday to see Mornington High School's unique approach to the arts.

Mr Lewis MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Adult Learning and Skills, met staff and pupils to see for himself the specialist art college's success.

Accompanied by Leigh MP Andy Burnham, Mr Lewis saw the superb new visual arts facilities and pupils' work and was welcomed by Cllr Stuart Shaw, head teacher Mrs Jane Lees and head pupils Katie Finch and Ashley Turner.

Mornington High provides services and activities beyond the school day with an arts cyber caf open outside school hours. Mornington is now working with local primary schools to ensure the benefits of being an arts college are passed on to the wider community.

The school is also planning to become a centre of learning for the whole community through the government's Extended Schools initiative.

Chairman of governors Cllr Stuart Shaw said: "We were all delighted to become a specialist school last year. The performing and visual arts are a major strength of the school and great strides have been made since then.

"We are now looking forward to showing Mr Lewis the work that the school is doing to spread the benefits of the visual arts throughout Hindley."