ROCKET man Steve Bennett is appealing for a new launch site for his mission to reach the stars - and it could be in East Lancashire.

The university lecturer's last rocket, Starchaser III, burst into flames just seconds after take-off from a Dartmoor firing range in March scattering burning debris which set fire to the moorland.

It had been hoped the rocket would reach 15,000 feet.

Mr Bennett's next major launch is expected to take place in Northumberland, but before that, the University of Salford lecturer plans a series of smaller launches using reusable rockets.

He is looking for a landowner with plenty of space to offer a launch site.

"It has to be a wide open space away from people and property," explained Mr Bennett.

"Power lines, roads and railways also cause a problem but something like half a square mile of open countryside away from anything would be adequate.

"We're fully insured so everything is covered. We'll probably only be going up about 3,000 feet and I'm hoping that the rocket will be reusable."

Mr Bennett's ambition is to first launch a small satellite and then ultimately men into space.

His Starchaser II rocket was set to be launched from the grounds of Coniston Hall, near Skipton, in November 1995, but three failed countdowns meant the hardware never left its launch pad.

Nelson firm PDS Engineering, which was heavily involved in the record-breaking Thrust land speed project, has worked with Mr Bennett on his rocket scheme.

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