IT could have been a scene straight out of HG Wells’s War of the Worlds - saving the planet from an alien invasion.

But rather it was Smithills School’s first STEM Day.

And to bring the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics alive, the school explored how to save the world from an imaginary alien attack, using their scientific know-how to solve the intergalactic problem.

Pupils used maths to calculate distances and angles of objects hovering over intended targets.

Within science, the youngsters used concepts of forces and investigative skills to design defence rockets for launch.

Through a range of practical activities, the technology element of the day encouraged pupils to investigate the effects of drag and weight on flight.

Pupils were able to participate in team building skills as they applied theoretic learning from maths, science and technology in busy sessions, designing and building water powered rockets.

Chris Wormald, assistant headteacher, said: “Pupils spent an exciting afternoon 'saving the world' from the imaginary alien invasion as they tested their rockets.

“As these flew across the school fields, amazingly some managed to reach heights in excess of 100 feet.”