PUPILS from three Bury primary schools have had an out-of-this-world treat this week.

Sunny Bank Primary School in Hathaway Road hosted pupils from nearby schools over two days, teaching the children about rockets, meteorites and all things outer space.

The centrepiece of all this was the nine metre Skybolt rocket. Created by Starchaser Industries, which serves as an educational tool, touring schools from its home in Hyde, Greater Manchester.

Between Monday, March 6, and Tuesday, March 7, every pupil from Sunny Bank, Chantlers Primary School in Foulds Avenue and Higher Lane Primary School in Egerton Road had the chance to see the rocket.

Martin Van Hecke, deputy head at Sunny Bank said: “When they are coming onto the site it’s that real wow moment. I think it’s very current at the moment, it’s very relevant. Maybe there’s the next Tim Peake in our midst at the moment.”

Steve Bennett the founder of Starchaser Industries tours hundreds of schools each year and said: “We’re trying to get more kids interested in science, technology, engineering and maths. It would be great if these kids went on to do something amazing.”

Mr Van Hecke organised the events capitalising on the relationship the three schools have been building since the new curriculum came in

He said: “There’s something really powerful in enabling [the schools] to work together, it’s something we would love to develop in the future.”

Joanne Windows, school business manager at Chantlers, said: “We themed everything around rockets today, reception are having a little picnic with rocket shaped sandwiches and every class has done a big display.”

The Skybolt was delivered to the school on Monday morning on its very own “missile transporter”, Ian Tetlow, deputy head of Higher Lane said there was an audible gasp from pupils when the rocket was revealed, with the children calling it “wonderful”. Mr Bennett, aged 52, gave a presentation in front of the Skybolt, Mr Tetlow said: “He talked about rockets, what a rocket is, types of rockets, the man on the moon and Tim Peake.” After the children rewatched Major Tim Peake’s space launch from December 2015.

Mr Tetlow added: “It’s about making us aware there is a space program in the UK, it’s just not a manned one.” Founded in 1992, Starchaser Industries hopes to one day make low cost space tourism a reality. Mr Bennett said: “One aim is to launch three people into space, it’s a sub-orbital flight, a few minutes up in space.”