YOUNG people in Bolton witnessed a historic moment and cheered as Tim Peake blasted off into space just minutes ago.

Sharples High School live streamed the launch so pupils could witness Major Peake, aged 43, making history as the first fully British professional astronaut to be employed by a space agency.

The school has been holding a series of activities building up to the launch, led by Caroline Molyneux who is a member of the National Space Academy.

The assistant head teacher said "This is a historic occasion for Britain, we have had talks on it all morning.

"Tim is an inspiration to young people, he was just like them and he has shown there are no limits and they can be what they want to be. There are no limits."

Major Peake blasted off into orbit on board the Soyuz space capsule on his way to becoming the first British astronaut to join the crew of the International Space Station (ISS).

 

The Russian rocket launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in front of the world's media following weeks of preparation.

Images of the launch showed the trail of flames the rocket left in its wake as it sped up into the blue sky, before it became a tiny fleck in the distance.

A view of inside the capsule showed the astronauts in their space suits as the rocket lifted off.

Major Peake could be identified by the Union Flag on his sleeve.

He smiled at the camera, waved and gave a thumbs up as they sat back in their seats for the journey into space.