WHEN this year's Lord Mayor's Show takes to the streets of the City on November 11, there will be more than just a passing interest in Bexley.

Every year, the Woolwich has a float in the show, and this year the bank asked students on art design courses at Erith School to make it.

Last year, the bank, whose head office is in Bexleyheath, asked Bexley primary and secondary schools to help in the creations of masks and items for its float.

That was so successful the Woolwich's designer, Jane Ripley, who had worked with the school's art students before, decided to ask then to take on the whole project.

The idea was to give the students, who are studying for their advanced GNVQ in art design, the experience of working on a commercial commission. It also formed part of their GNVQ course.

The project involved everything from planning and design through to budgeting and scheduling. Ken Moore from the Woolwich was seconded one day a week to help the students out with new skills.

Student Emma Mordue, 16, was given the job of co-ordinating the project as well as putting in her own work in design and construction.

The students worked with Jane Ripley and her team of designers, who have worked on many other floats, and were tutored in the skills they needed. The theme they had to work to was the Woolwich's Anytime, Anyhow, Anywhere Banking campaign.

Six teams of students put together a design idea and gave a 20-minute presentation. The winning designers were Chris Gilbert, Dean Gray and Paul Gambril.

The students were then split once more into six teams to work on the design and construction of the float which is based on a game show.

The music for the float has been created by the Bexley Centre for Music and Dance, in Sidcup, working with a professional musician and composer.

The main performers on the float will be drama students from Welling School, supported by students from Erith School who will act as cheerleaders.

Choreographer Micha Bergese, artistic director of the Millennium Show at the Dome, has been supervising the rehearsals.