A NEW resource area at Barnoldswick's Church School was dedicated and blessed by the Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Rev David Smith.

Calling at the primary school as one of several visits in the area, the Bishop got a warm welcome and was clearly impressed with the £100,000 project. It created an extra "mezzanine" floor in the main hall, making space for the school's computers, its library and a music resource area.

In fact, it is the second mezzanine floor installed at the town centre school, the first one built a few years ago to provide extra classroom and office space.

A proportion of the money for the new mezzanine was raised through activities in school and from local sponsors. More money came from the school's PTA, the Rotary Club of Barnoldswick and Earby and from local residents, parents and past pupils.

The money raised by the school was used to secure other funding from the Local Education Authority and other sources. Mrs Heaton said it had been a daunting task to raise so much, but she had always been confident the school would manage it.

Many of the sponsors and friends of the school were there on Wednesday for the dedication of the new facilities by the Bishop.

Mrs Heaton said: "We are now sitting somewhere that we thought we might never sit, but somewhere that was there all the time just waiting to be made use of. What we have managed to achieve is just a dream come true for our school and we are already seeing tremendous benefit from it."

Bishop David remarked that he had dedicated the school's first mezzanine floor some years ago and was delighted to be asked back to perform the task again.

"I want to congratulate everyone involved with this project because it is a tremendous achievement to find so much money and then to use it in such a positive way, for a room that is such an enhancement to the school," said the Bishop.

He joked that the outside of a school, like the outside of a bishop, might not be remarkable, but inside... well, that was a different matter.

o The Bishop was in West Craven - part of the Bradford Diocese - throughout Wednesday, making a variety of visits. They included a tour of aerospace engineering company Euravia, at Kelbrook, where he learned how similar companies across the region were facing a global downturn since the tragic events of September 11.

Founder and managing director of Euravia, Dennis Mendoros OBE, is also chairman of the North West Aerospace Alliance, which is spearheading the region's response to the current crisis.

Later, Bishop David visited paint spraying specialists Heap and Preece, of Earby. Again he was given a tour of the business premises and an explanation of the work there.

On Wednesday evening he led a service of confirmation at Earby's All Saints' Parish Church where candidates came from across West Craven - and Uganda! The group included Ugandan student Ruth Inegrets, who is currently staying with Earby vicar Rev Richard Wallace and his wife, Daphne.

Yesterday (Thursday), the Bishop made more visits in Craven, starting with Brooklands School, Skipton, then meeting members of the town's Muslim community. Later he enjoyed lunch at Kettlewell Village Hall with members of the local community before going on to meet Upper Wharfedale families worker Kath Hammond.

In the evening he took part in a "Question Time with the Bishop" at Skipton's Holy Trinity Church, followed by entertainment.