A CHEMISTRY student whose bungled experiment sparked a major alert was today reassurred: "All the best scientists get it wrong sometimes."

And Christopher Cookson was told his explosion - likened to the adventures of Muppet characters Professor Bunsen Burner and Beaker - could be the start of a great career.

The 18-year-old, who is studying A-level Chemistry at St Mary's College, Blackburn, caused a bang when he mixed together copper oxide and magnesium at his uncle's home in Pleckgate Road on Wednesday.

Within minutes the house was swarming with firefighters, chemical response officers and medics and he feared powder inhaled from the blast may harm him.

Professor Mike Holmes, head of science at the University of Central Lancashire, reassured Christopher.

He said: "Some of the most historically impressive findings have been as a result of a mess up."

But at the same time he urged chemistry students not to mix chemicals and added: "Students should never break the rules by mixing chemicals they don't know the outcome of. It can be very dangerous."

Christopher, 18, of Beryl Avenue, Roe Lee, said: "Even though I was pretty stunned at the time, I really enjoy chemistry and this has not been enough of a scare to put me off doing experiments in the future."

Sub officer at Blackburn fire station, Beau Gaskin likened Christopher to the Muppets, and Eddie Murphy's Nutty Professor from the 1996 hit movie.

He added: "We would advise people not to mess with what they don't know, especially students who are just learrning.

"But you never know in the future the nutty professor may well be a Nobel prize winner. "

Principal at St Mary's College Micheal Finley urged students not to carry out experiments without an adult present.

He added: "Health and safety is number one priority and students should not carry out experiments unless they have a responsible adult with them who is fully aware of the subject."