EARTHQUAKES and parachutes were just some of the topics budding scientists explored during their Saturday morning.

Colchester Academy opened its doors to primary school pupils to give them a taster of a secondary school environment while having fun and learning.

The Greenstead school started to run the Super Saturday events last September with each one based on a theme.

The latest was science to coincide with British Science Week this week.

Faye Edwards, assistant team leader of science at the school, said: "We usually get 50 to 60 attending but we had 112.

"It was a wild success and just so nice to be able to engage with the community and to build relationships with our future students

"Everyone had a really good time as well."

Activities for the eight to 11-year-olds, who came from as far as Clacton, included measuring speed by creating small parachutes, building earthquake-proof models, testing acids and alkalis and space poetry writing.

Each pupil was given a free fun science book to take home thanks to £200 funding from British Science Week.