PUPILS at Lowton Church of England High School are preparing for their first ever Yuletide extravaganza.

The school will be hosting a Christmas market called 'Christmas In the Street' tomorrow.

Students from Lowton and Gilded Hollins, who are being temporarily housed by the school, have been pitching in by using art and craft sessions to create their own Christmas decorations that will be sold on the night.

Lowton headteacher Juilan Pollard explains: “The event is a first for us but we are hoping it will become an annual fixture both for the school and for the entire community.

"It’s a chance for everyone to use the school as a focal point to really kick-off the Christmas celebrations in style, so we’re hoping as many people as possible can make it to the event.”

Students have also been working with the national Operation Christmas Child charity and have made shoeboxes to be delivered to less fortunate children in more than 80 countries.

Operation Christmas Child organiser Tracy Berry said: “The response from Lowton High School has been fantastic. For many of the children who receive one of these boxes, it will be their first Christmas present. The young people at Lowton really have embraced the true meaning of Christmas.”

Year 8 student Jake Needham was just one of those getting into the festive spirit.

He said: "Filling the boxes has been great. It’s made us all think about how lucky we are to be able to enjoy Christmas and get lots of presents. We get a lot so it’s only right that we give something back as well. I hope whoever gets my box really likes it because I’ve thought really hard about what to put in it.”

For more information on Lowton CE High School visit the website: www.lowtonhs.wigan.sch.uk