ROCKS from the moon got pupils all spaced out when they were brought to the borough for a unique display.

Pedmore Technology College and Community School in Stourbridge hosted the event from September 22 to 24.

Loaned from the Science and Technical Facilities Council, the rocks - owned by NASA - were transported to the school in a secure carriage and during their storage at the Grange Lane premises were kept in a secret location known only by two staff members.

Organiser and science teacher Jill Ward, who was given a full security check before handling the pieces, said: “There is no value that can be put on the rocks and moon dust because all of the pieces have been collected from space missions during the 1960s and 70s and each one is absolutely irreplaceable.

“We like to give the children here something different to assist them in their learning process and things like this give them that added extra in their topics, while hopefully giving them a real interest in science.

“This event has been hugely popular among both staff and pupils and we all feel very privileged to have experienced this. This is a first at the school.”

NASA has so far collected 382kg of moon debris from its missions, although most is used for scientific research - a small proportion was donated for education purposes.

The eldest piece among the rocks, which were presented to key stage three and four students, was five billion years old.

Student Sophie Rafiq, aged 11, said: “We have never done anything like this at school before. It is really interesting to see all of the different rocks from the moon.

“I couldn’t have imagined before what they would be like and I think we are all very lucky to have been given the chance to see them and touch them.

“This has really helped bring our work to life.”

The school is only the second in the Black Country to have displayed the one off collection.