THE new academic year will start with a spectacular celebration at a Chorley high school.

Rockets will be launched at Albany Science College, Bolton Road, tomorrow (Thursday), and TV weatherman Fred Talbot will be on hand to perform the formal re-naming ceremony.

The former Albany High School is now officially a specialist science college and staff and pupils will mark this achievement with a special day of events.

These will include activities run by Starchaser, the Manchester-based company responsible for Britain's leading entry in an international competition to launch a commercial space industry.

Starchaser will work with 20 pupils from Albany and from its partner school Lostock Hall High, Leyland, to produce working solid fuel rockets, which will be launched during the day. Ian Woods, specialist schools co-ordinator at Albany, said: "It's tremendously exciting to be launching a new science college in Chorley.

"We are particularly pleased that this ties in with the best ever science results the school has had."

Also in school will be dozens of year five and year six children from Albany's partner primary schools.

They will also be working with Starchaser on a rocket project.

The focal point of the day will be an 11 metre long rocket, and the official renaming by Fred Talbot, who will also be talking to years eight and nine about the weather on other planets.

To round off the day Albany is holding its annual presentation evening, with two surprise guests from the Wigan Rugby League team.