YOUNG scientist Charley Hughes used the forces of nature to design a high-jumping model mouse at a summer festival with a difference.

The year five pupil from St Philip's CE Primary in Atherton joined like-minded children at a Science Festival at Bolton School, where the theme was sport.

The young Einsteins worked in teams of four taking part in five different activities through which they could examine biology, chemistry and physics.

Tasks included create a high-jumping model mouse to bring physics to life.

Each mouse was designed to fit over the end of a plastic bottle so that when the children smacked the sides, it would be propelled into the air. Youngsters had to think carefully about what they would have to do to make their mouse jump as high and as straight as possible, such as the addition of differently shaped ears and different lengths of tail shape and the size of the Blu-tack ‘nose’

A competition was held to see whose mouse could jump the highest.

The youngsters received a certificate and special pencil and each school received a set of books to be used in future science lessons.

Samantha Tomlinson, Bolton School Primary Liaison, said: “It was wonderful to be able to welcome so many of our local primary schools in to work alongside our current pupils and our subject specialists in both the boys’ and girls’ division science departments.

“Our visitors were able to work in the labs to discover the science behind sport — very fitting with Wimbledon upon us.

“This event continues to be extremely popular for the able and talented children in the area and we look forward to its continued success in future years.”