YOUNGSTERS from St Joseph's School, Barnoldswick, have been building the bricks for future success.

They have just won a competition to design the perfect house.

It was organised by local developer Cawder Construction, which is currently building a mixed village-style project alongside the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in the town.

A member of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, it is keen to counter the negative image of builders portrayed on some television programmes and says care for the community and minimising inconvenience are key aims.

Partner Geoffrey Bennett, who is a former chairman and president of Barnoldswick and Earby Round Table, came up with the idea of a competition to get schools involved.

As well as designing the perfect house, the children were also asked to put forward names for the new development and suggestions included Waterside, Narrowboat View and Brindley Mews (after the engineer who designed the canal).

A judging panel, led by Renea Cammish, project manager for Together Housing, and architect Paul Tyrer, from Dyson Associates, chose the winners.

Mr Tyrer praised the quality of entries and the effort that had gone into them. "Who knows we may have found an architect or builder of the future," he said.

Dennis Mendoros, Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire and managing director of Kelbrook-based Euravia Engineering, presented certificates and £25 book tokens to Jacob Taylforth, Bryan Irons, Olivia Babiarz, Marlena Bujny and Kasha Templar-Lloyd.

He also presented a cheque to headteacher Natalie Wood.