Spaghetti and marshmallows helped a Crosby primary school to put science in the spotlight at a special event recently.

Staff at St Mary's College prep school, The Mount, showed pupils how the favourite foodstuffs can be used to make surprisingly elegant and sturdy structures as part of the school's Science Day.

Other activities looked at subjects ranging from skeletons and how helicopters fly to floating and sinking and what happens to your heart when you exercise.

Some pupils even looked at how forensic science is used to bring people to justice in crime investigations.

Science Day was the brainchild of Science Co-ordinator, Jane Battitsi, who arranged for staff and pupils to wear white coats during the activities to create an authentic laboratory-style environment.

She also invited sixth form and year 11 science students from the senior school to help out during the day, including five former pupils from The Mount who had just achieved 100 per cent marks in their GCSE science modules.

Michael Collins, Headteacher of The Mount, commented: "This was a really successful day which gave the children the chance to take part in experiments and discussions which focused on the increasingly important role that science plays in our lives.

"The aim was to encourage them to explore and discover the subject in more detail, to inspire them to think scientifically and - as a result - to hopefully help them achieve more in their future science learning and attainment."

Teacher Jane Battitsi and students from St Mary's College offer some advice on the science of structures to pupils at The Mount.