DOZENS of pupils from Keighley's University Academy Keighley (UAK) enjoyed an inspirational visit to the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford.

They had the rare opportunity to view British astronaut Tim Peake’s descent module and take part in a special Science of Space event.

A group of 55 students from UAK were taken to the attraction on October 10.

The space craft exhibited at the museum is the Soyuz TMA-19M module, which returned Mr Peake to earth after he embarked on the Principia mission to the International Space Station. Mr Peake had spent six months in orbit.

A spokesman for UAK said: "Our students had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a close look at this historic spacecraft, which was complete with scorch marks from its re-entry through the atmosphere.

"The Space Day also gave the students an opportunity to learn more about the Soyuz, take part in an interactive space show, explore the science of light and sound in the Wonder Lab and meet Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) ambassadors and scientists who told them more about careers within the space industry.

"The day proved to be a useful learning tool for the students, as they begin to look at the physics of space in their GCSE science curriculum."

Anam Ilyas, one of the UAK students who took part in the visit, said: “It was a really unique day and the Imax movie gave me a very different perspective on what space is like.”

Fellow student Maryam Nazam added: “The scientists and ambassadors explained all the investigations really clearly, I had a great time."

Both pupils also had high praise for the attraction's popular mirror maze.