Pupils from schools across the North East spent their half-term at Northumbria University, exploring career prospects in the UK space industry.

Sixty students from years six and 12 participated in the event, organised by Lockheed Martin and Viasat.

They listened to industry experts and were involved in practical workshops and projects.

The event was hosted at Northumbria University, which collaborates with Lockheed Martin and the UK Space Agency on the North East Space Skills and Technology Centre (NESST).

This £50 million facility aims to equip the future space sector workforce with essential skills and drive research and technology development.

Students as young as ten from eight primary schools, including St John's Primary School in Newcastle and Broadway Junior School in Sunderland, took part.

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The young participants engaged in activities ranging from rocket making and launching to Mars colonisation prospects and robot workshops.

Ten-year-old Eva Noorkhalid from St Teresa's said: "I am really interested in science and space and we have learned about it in a really fun way."

Sixteen-year-old Patrick Hoggins from St Cuthbert's Catholic High School for Boys said: "You wouldn't really think there was so much opportunity to work in space but this is a fantastic way to find out all of the different things you can do."

Ben Shaw, head of operations and capture at Lockheed Martin, launched the week and emphasised the importance of the event.

He said: "Space Camp is part of the narrative which encourages students to develop their science identity and their pathway to a STEM career; hopefully into the growing space sector."

Professor John Woodward, pro-vice-chancellor (international) at Northumbria University, said: "Space Camp speaks to everything we do at Northumbria University to drive social mobility."

On the final day, the year 12 groups presented their solutions to the problem of space debris to a panel, including the MP for Cramlington and Killingworth, Emma Foody, who said: "It was amazing to see the work these young people did and how much they realise the importance of STEM subjects."