A FARNWORTH school won a trip to Moscow when they blasted away the opposition in a rocket science competition.

Mount St Joseph's R.C. School emerged triumphant from a field of five other schools in Bolton and Bury and will now travel to the Russian capital to compete against teams from countries across the globe in the International Rocket Olympics.

The team, which is made up of five year 10 and 11 pupils, will be the only UK entrant in the contest. They will cross swords with entrants from the USA and Japan.

Teacher Paul Abbott said: "I am delighted for my team and it is really deserved by them. The children have worked incredibly hard, coming in on weekends and even during their half term holidays.

"We are really looking forward to the trip to Moscow where the children will even get to see a real rocket being launched, which will be fantastic. I am sure the whole experience will be amazing."

Picked from a field that included Rivington and Blackrod, Westhoughton High, The Derby High School and Elms Bank High School, the students were also presented with the Bolton Evening News trophy.

Mr Abbott added: "Our only regret is that the children from the other schools, who have worked just as hard as we have, are not able to join us in Russia."

The Bolton challenge was co-ordinated locally by Bolton & Bury Education Business Partnership and was sponsored by Double R Controls Ltd -- a scientific engineering company based in Heywood.

It was designed to involve youths and their teachers in science, mathematics, physics and applied technology through the construction and launch of high-powered rockets.

Charlotte Chadwick, Director of the Bolton and Bury Education Business Partnership, said: "We were delighted to be involved in this unique, exciting initiative."