CHILDREN at a Worcester school have enjoyed an inspirational week of science.

Pupils from St Barnabas CE Primary School spoke to radio enthusiasts around the world thanks to a 60 foot radio mast installed at the Green Lane school.

Using the temporary call sign GB1STB, pupils made contact with over 90 stations, talking to people in Germany, France, Denmark, Belgium and Holland as well as Orkney, Isle of Lewis and Northern Ireland.

They also found out about morse code, the phonetic alphabet and how radio waves travel around the world.

The demonstration station was installed at the school on Monday, March 17 and Tuesday, March 18 thanks to members of Worcester Radio Amateur Association who run the event as part of National Science Week.

Radio operators Max White, Rich Moles and Andrew Page supervised the on air contacts, and also organised a live downlink from the International Space Station so pupils could watch the crew at work in real time.

Project leader Max White said: "We have run a special event station in local schools for some years, and they have always been great fun."

The school's theme for the science week was crime and detection and pupils also learned about forensic science.

The school's science co-ordinator Annabel Morgan said: "We are trying to inspire the children and give them an insight into career options.

"We've had forensic teams in talking about how they got their jobs and the police came in to tell the children about the importance of sealing off crime areas."

Mrs Morgan also said the children would listen to science-themed stories and find out about the uniqueness of fingerprints as part of the week.

She added: "We are trying to promote the importance of science in everyday life and the language of communication."

Headteacher Angela Deakin said: "We are trying to open our children's eyes to the opportunities that are out there.

"They are absolutely fascinated and really enjoying it."

The radio mast will now move to Perdiswell Primary for over the weekend of Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30 for Airfields on the Air, to mark the former RAF Perdiswell being located in the grounds.