ROCKET-building and star-gazing sessions could soon be coming to pubs in Darwen thanks to a £24,000 grant.

Two venues are already in discussions about hosting the nine-month Stars and Stuff project run by Erica Dobie and Adam Whittaker, of Beauty in the Universe.

Church halls and community centres are also being approached.

The pair were awarded the money by the Adult and Community Learning Fund to deliver practical astronomy education to adults and families in the town who are disengaged from traditional science institutions such as museums and universities.

Stars and Stuff is devoted to astronomy, astrophysics and space exploration.

Erica said: “A lot of traditional educational places are self-selecting.

"You have to be interested already in science to go to a museum and have to make the effort.

“With this, we’re bringing the science to people in a place where they already go and feel comfortable and relaxed.

"Hopefully that will help them learn better.

“The ultimate aim is to get people to take this on and go to university, but that can often seem very intimidating.

"Anything we can do to soften that for people has got to be a good thing.”

The sessions will be delivered by Adam with the help of Professor Ian Morison, of Gresham College, London.

Food, childcare and transport will help participants attend.

Geoff Russell, chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency, said: “It will make a tremendous difference to the lives of individuals and to their communities.”