THE licensees of the Bee Hive pub at Horwich are putting a local school on the map.

Chris and Jackie Timmins have sponsored road signs to point visitors in the direction of Claypool Primary School.

Although the school takes its name from Claypool Road, there is no vehicular access, and traffic has to use Salisbury Road and Austins Lane, causing confusion for visitors.

Pupils asked Bolton Council to put up direction signs and even made a presentation in words and music at Horwich Town Council to win the support of local councillors. Although the school was given council permission for the signs, it was told it would have to foot the bill for £270 per sign. Mr and Mrs Timmins, who moved into the Bee Hive only at the end of August, have an eight-year-old daughter at the school and were happy to help out. At the same time they are helping another local school, Chorley New Road Primary, which is celebrating its centenary.

Mrs Timmins, said: " For a long time breweries took out of the community but have now decided it's about time to start putting a little back."

The brewery, Allied Domecq Leisure Ltd, has donated £50 to each school and pupils have been issued with vouchers for parents which entitles them to £1 off a meal at the pub. For every parent that takes up the offer, £1 is donated to school funds, and in the case of Claypool, will be used to buy two road signs.

Mr and Mrs Timmins also ran a colouring competition in the school.

And the prize for the two lucky pupils Nicholas Grimshaw, aged four, and Hannah Livesey, 10, was a party for each of them and nine friends at the Bee Hive's new Wacky Warehouse children's fun barn.

There was a party, too, for 10 other children who were runners-up in the competition.

The youngsters were the first to try out the new play facilities, which are on two levels with separate areas for the under-twos, under fives, and ages five to 11.

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