BAILIFFS raided a Bolton school this week — not to repossess pupils' laptops but to teach them about saving and spending.

Youngsters at Devonshire Road Primary School invited a Bolton County Court bailiff to their class after reading a story about a family which spent too much at Christmas and fell into too much debt.

Bailiff Haydn Washington said: “It was a great pleasure to visit the school.

“Both pupils and staff were extremely welcoming.

“I was very impressed with the interest shown by pupils in the work of the bailiffs office in the county court.

“Awareness of debt and the issue of debt recovery is very important for the next generation.

“I hope it will help them to make positive choices in the future."

He found himself being quizzed by young people, who through the programme will become Money Mentors and lead lessons in financial management.

Teacher Farah Atcha, who leads financial education at the school in Heaton, said: "The children were really interested in speaking to Haydn about what being a bailiff entails.

"They have been learning about debt and the consequences which may occur if a person is unable to pay loans or pay back money borrowed.

"They had lots of thoughtful questions to ask him and learnt lots about how to avoid getting into debt in the future."

Devonshire Road Primary School has been selected as one of a handful of schools to become a centre of excellence in financial education, as part of a partnership between global information services company Experian and the Personal Finance Education Group (PFEG).

The school is educating its pupils to become money wise through the DebtAware Money Management Programme, sponsored by the Debt Advice Foundation.

The lessons incorporate The Money Diaries series created by children from Southlands High School in Chorley.