Ref. 12508/1Education at Neston School has lifted off to new heights with the development of a £35,000 Moonbase in the playground.

Pupils are already enjoying their new science and technology apparatus, which is being built in stages.

The central dome has been constructed and linked to it is an aqua zone including the school pond and a growing zone, which holds a small greenhouse.

"We have ordered all the technology equipment to go in it and we are expecting it any day," said headteacher Linda Davies.

The next zone to be built is the mirror maze and the school hopes the whole project will be finished by the end of the year.

The Moonbase was funded by a grant from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), which was established under the 1998 National Lottery Act to support and promote talent, innovation and creativity in the fields of science, technology and the arts.

Mrs Davies said the school was looking for further funding to add more zones to the base.

They also hope to involve the secondary school in Corsham, which has special status for the visual arts.

"We are hoping that they will be able to help us with willow sculptures," said Mrs Davies.

"The aim is to create a learning facility to experiment and inspire. Difficult concepts can be grasped if pupils can see and interact with objects."