Children linked to space station

Yuri Malenchenko: Tied up at the moment

A group of children from a Wiltshire school have linked live to the International Space Station (ISS).

Neston Primary School, near Corsham, is one of only two in the whole country whose pupils are being allowed to speak live to the cosmonauts.

Pupils were connected via ham radio.

Rachel Riley, chair of governors at the school, said the children had rehearsed a variety of questions.

"We have had: 'When do you think man will reach Mars?', right through to 'How do you recycle water on the space station?'."

The ISS is currently manned by Russian cosmonauts and is tipped to become a commercial destination of choice for wealthier space travellers in the future.

"It was really fun, because I've never spoken to an astronaut before," said Victoria aged seven.

"It's something that you wouldn't really expect - to speak to an astronaut," added Kirsty, aged 11.