Youngsters got a glimpse of distant constellations and far off galaxies when a planetarium visited a Norfolk school.Normally it requires a school trip to give pupils an extra-curricular thrill - but roles were reversed when the professional science kit was set up in a school near Dereham.

Youngsters got a glimpse of distant constellations and far off galaxies when a planetarium visited a Norfolk school.

Normally it requires a school trip to give pupils an extra-curricular thrill - but roles were reversed when the professional science kit was set up in a school near Dereham.

More than 70 youngsters at Brisley CE Primary School got inside the planetarium yesterday, while parents were invited to look round last night and bring their other children along.

A further 70 pupils will be visiting from schools in the surrounding area today and tomorrow.

Georgia Willis, aged five, from Swanton Morley, said: 'It was really cool because I've never seen the stars so clear and close-up before. The best bit was trying to find the North Star, which is very important to us because helps it helps us find the way home.'

The planetarium is on a three-day loan from the Science Learning Centre East of England, and replicates an accurate image of the night sky.

The school's head of science Helen Green talked the pupils through the night sky's various constellations and their mythical origins.

She said: 'It's wonderful because you can see so many stars from Norfolk and we want the children to make the most of them.

'We are absolutely delighted with this, we're a small school but we make the most of what we've got and share it with the community around us.'

Ruben Barrett, aged four, from Longham, said: 'I think it was brilliant, I like the stars because they're really pretty and now I know more about them.'

Simon Bird, aged five, of Brisley, added: 'I think it was great, it was nice when the stars were moving.'