BEBINGTON school children are being invited to see, for free, a local 'Soap Opera' to rival Brookside, Coronation Street and Eastenders all put together! A love story in fairytale village made of soap.

Wirral South MP Ben Chapman welcomes the news that the Lady Lever Art Gallery is throwing its doors open free to children from now on.

The announcement was made after Secretary of State for Culture Chris Smith visited Lady Lever Art gallery to be taken on a tour by Wirral South MP Ben Chapman (see picture) together with Julian Treuherz, Keeper of Art Galleries for NMGM and Andrew Renton, curator of the Lady Lever.

The Lady Lever Art gallery is in the centre of historic Port Sunlight Village, a village of outstanding architectural interest. Children will be able to see the treasures and paintings and learn a fascinating romantic Soap Story of how the first Lord Leverhulme built the gallery in memory of his beloved wife, then filled it with treasures from all over the world.

From April, 14 million children countrywide can enjoy free visits to 32 national museums and galleries, of which the Lady Lever is a jewel in the crown locally.

MP BEN Chapman also had more good news for children returning to school after the Easter holidays. Five schools locally are to be improved under the Government's New Deal for Schools while Wirral is to receive nearly £2.7m for projects in 1990-2000.

"I am delighted that Grove Street primary, Raeburn Primary, Higher Bebington Junior, South Wirral High and Mendell Primary schools are benefiting. The Government package is to improve the quality of the school building stock and help raise standards."

A view shared by Councillor Mick Groves, chairman of Wirral Education Committee who said the £2.7m in grants will be spread among some 37 schools in Wirral. He praised the schools and the education department for the way in which they helped to attract the grants.

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