WHEN they found themselves in need, pupils of the Manor Church of England School, York, received more than a cup of sugar from their neighbours: instead they were offered a £5,000 cheque.

The neighbours could not have been sweeter under any circumstances because it was British Sugar and the result was a 16-computer annexe in the school library. Yes, a computer... suite.

The £5,000 went towards the £30,000 cost of a five-year lease on the computers which will be linked in a network to two printers, one colour, another black and white.

All of the computers run Windows '95 and have access to multi-media encyclopaedias. Work can be saved on a central file server or a floppy disc.

And the response by the children to using the machines to improve their information technology skills, such as word processing, the use of databases and spreadsheets has been "phenomenal", said Tony Hinder, their deputy head.

"We could do with two to three times as many computers. So great has been the demand that we have had to devise a booking system, with each year given a priority on different days."

British Sugar had been "very generous", having in previous years supplied athletics vests to pupils.

Bearded Peter Christopherson, project manager of British Sugar, visited the suite with his factory manager Dave Kearney and said:

"The school approached us to help with their information resources centre and we responded because we believe that IT, an essential part of the school's curriculum, is important to prepare youngsters for the technological future."

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