INTEREST in numbers has ballooned at a Farnworth secondary school since they celebrated all things mathematical with a week full of activities and kicked off numeracy week with a maths-based balloon race.

The Year 7 pupils released 50 helium-filled balloons from the school grounds - each with a number puzzle attached to it.

The challenge was for a member of the public to find the balloon, solve the problem and return it to the school.

But balloon fun wasn't the only thing on the agenda for the students with activities ranging from mathematical bingo, quizzes, paper-folding and even the school's very own version of TV's "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?"

Assistant head Viv Sharples said: "Instead of general knowledge questions, pupils will be asked maths questions.

"They had "phone a friend", "50:50" and "ask the audience" but instead of winning money, the prizes were various bars of chocolate."

As for the balloons, Mrs Sharples says they have had seen impressive mileage with the furthest away balloon so far touching down in Leyland.

AIR WE GO: Year 7 pupils at Harper Green School get ready for lift off in their maths-based balloon race.

HEAVEN'S ABOVE: The 50 balloons catch the wind above Harper Green School. The furthest away has been found in Leyland.