SCHOOLCHILDREN are reaching for the sky in a bid to win a trip to America.

Youngsters from three Bolton schools are fighting for the chance to compete in a major "rocket science" competition being held in the US.

The pupils from Rivington and Blackrod, Westhoughton High and Mount St Joseph, have put together their own rockets and showed them off at the Last Drop Village Hotel, in Bromley Cross, on Thursday.

Pupils from Derby High, in Bury, and Elms Bank, in Whitefield, are also taking part. The rockets will be launched on March 15 in Lincoln at which point the winning team will be announced -- pitting them against American Schools in the US Aerospace Challenge 2003, due to take place at Lake Michigan in August.

Each set of pupils had been provided with a rocket kit. The children were asked to make extra tweaks in a bid to ensure they have the winner.

The rockets are capable of travelling at 600 mph and will be able to blast off to a height of up to 4,000 ft.

The initiative is designed to involve youths and their teachers in science, maths, physics and applied technology through the construction and launch of high-powered rockets.

Derby High pupil Rhiannon Kelly, aged 15, said: "It's been a real challenge. It's been quite difficult but very enjoyable.

"We're excited about the chance of going to America."