More than 200 youngsters and parents had a close encounter with space when they made the trip up to Sidmouth’s observatory on Saturday.

The Norman Lockyer centre hosted a family day to mark National Science and Education Week, with a spectrum of attractions under the theme ‘invention and discovery’.

Visitors faced the poor weather and were treated to hands-on experiments and talks from resident experts and Colyton Grammar School pupils.

They learned of how Sir Norman was a humble amateur who discovered helium, and how Galileo found Jupiter, before the younger audience heard tales and mysteries of the sun and moon.

The observatory had a chance to show off its latest observations, and guests could tour the various domes, including the newly built Connaught Dome.

Chairman David Strange said: “The successful day added some brightness to the otherwise cold and gloomy March weather.”