HISTORY-conscious pupils from Astley St Stephens School have been working hand-in-hand with the Morts Astley Heritage Group.

Kerry Meekin wears a T-shirt bearing the logo she designed for the conservationists who have big plans for saving a threatened slice of Astley's past.

And fellow pupils Kelly Greenhalgh, James Stewart and Anthony Booth are backing Kerry's design which earned her a T-shirt prize from MAHG members.

The group, now officially designated a building preservation trust and awaiting charitable status, has ambitious plans to safeguard historic Dam House in the middle of the shut-down Astley Hospital site.

Bids for National Lottery, Euro and specialist heritage funding have been drawn-up and an in-depth feasibility study gave the thumbs up for community use plans.

Next Thursday (June 27, 7.30pm) a fun-raising race night is held at Astley Labour Club. Admission is £1, including refreshments, and up for grabs is a free helicopter flight around Blackpool.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.