CHILDREN at The Ridge Primary School in Wollaston have been taking part in an educational project that's out of this world.

Youngsters at the Gregory Road school have been taking part in the national Rocket Science project, a partnership between the European Space Agency and the Royal Horticultural Society’s science team, which aims to encourage pupils to think scientifically and take an interest in careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and horticulture.

The project saw two kilograms of rocket seeds shipped to the International Space Station as part of British astronaut Tim Peake’s six-month Principia mission and after several months on board they were returned to earth and packaged up with identical seeds that have stayed on earth.

Schools taking part in the project were then given two packets of 100 seeds to grow and compare to see what growing plants in space can teach man about life on earth and whether human life could be sustained in space through the production of food.

Deb Hudson, headteacher at The Ridge, said: "The whole school has been inspired by the project. The children watched Tim Peek go into space and now to be growing seed which he has sent from the International Space Station is truly special.

"Reception children have been so excited that they have written thank you letters to Tim."

She said the seeds have already germinated and added: "The children are taking very good care of them, watering them as instructed and on day ten, Monday, they will start taking measurements."

Schools will be invited to input their results into a national online database so results can be compared across the country.