PARENTS in Tang Hall gave the thumbs-up to the area's first children's university when it was opened by the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Irene Waudby.

A hall full of around 100 parents and children greeted the Lord Mayor, a former pupil, when she arrived to unveil a plaque at Tang Hall Primary School to mark the start of the new Saturday morning university.

More than 60 junior children from the school will be doing different activities every week for the next year.

The children's entertainer Professor Fiddlesticks, alias circus skills expert, John Cossham, also helped launch the university with some juggling and uni-cycling, accompanied by musician Keith Jackman, two of the staff who will be running activities, project work and sports for the children.

Mum Debbra Booth, of Rockingham Avenue, said her eight-year-old daughter Tamara was attending the university.

She said: "I think it's a very good idea and is opening up a lot of opportunities to them.

"I've got a child who doesn't really like school but she is enjoying the idea of this and I hope it will help her get more involved in school. There will be a lot of education here but not the same as being at school."

Jeanette Robinson, of Seventh Avenue, said her daughter Katie Hutchinson, ten, would be attending the free university activities as well as starting the advanced maths course next week, another part of the project.

Thomas Merriman and Simon Maddison, both nine, said they were initially attracted to the university by the sport element, but were looking forward to the whole thing.

Simon said: "I think it's obviously going to be fun. It's not going to be like ordinary school. It's doing something new. When I read the Lord Mayor was coming I realised it was something exciting."

Head teacher Paul Prest told parents: "When I first came to Tang Hall in January 2000 I felt it needed something extra and something very special and I wanted our children to do something more than the National Curriculum. This is part of that. It's going to be a very, very interesting year. I want it to be not just for the children, but for the community of Tang Hall."

* The university is being funded by donations and sponsorship and anyone who would like to contribute anything, however, small, can contact Mr Prest on 424765.

Updated: 08:30 Monday, October 01, 2001