STARGAZERS had the chance to meet two Russian cosmonauts.

The Explore the Night Sky class is held at the planetarium at Wynyard Woodland Park, near Stockton.

Alexandre Alexandrov and Alexandre Martynov were guest speakers while on a trip to Teesside.

Mr Alexandrov, a veteran of two space missions, and Mr Martynov, a rocket expert responsible for landing spacecraft on Venus, Mars and the Moon, were giving a series of educational talks at schools and colleges.

The stargazing class caught up with them at their presentation to Bede College in Billingham.

John McGue, planetarium director and class tutor, said: "This was a fantastic opportunity for the students to meet people who had actually done the space exploration we have talked about in class, especially a man who risked his life, not once but twice, walking in space for the future of the human race."

A new Exploring Space class will start on January 12 from 6pm to 7.30pm for ten weeks. It will be held at Billingham Community Centre, Causeway, Billingham, and includes visits to the planetarium.

For more details or to enrol contact (01642) 397363.