BUDDING young scientists in Bradford have been entertained and educated at a fringe event to conclude the British Science Festival.

Families made the most of fun sessions held across the city at the weekend for the add-on event, which runs until Friday.

The British Science Festival has been hailed a huge success, with more than 12,000 people attending events over the main four days last week.

Clare Lamkin, head of events at Bradford College and part of the festival steering group, said she hoped it would return to the city.

She said: "There has been something for everybody, from high end research to bringing families together for days like Saturday. It's been a fantastic opportunity to bring in audiences who wouldn't normally come in to Bradford."

The high-profile event was organised by the University of Bradford, with events held at venues across the city, including at Bradford College.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council's portfolio holder for education, skills and culture, said: "The British Science Festival in Bradford has been a huge success. The breadth of events running over the week has been impressive.

"I congratulate Bradford University for bringing such a high profile and quality festival to Bradford once more."

Among Saturday attractions at the college for British Science Festival Fringe was a drama, Humbug, performed by actors and science staff, telling the story of an arsenic poisoning incident in Bradford in 1858 which claimed 200 lives. There was also an Alternative Second Hand Limb Shop, demonstrating special effects for Casualty-style road traffic accidents, and a Hollywood science exhibition about big film special effects.

A number of science stalls wowed the public in City Park, with the education and entertainment theme perfectly illustrated by a juggler using plastic fruit to demonstrate the law of gravity.

Infra red cameras and a wind tunnel drew the crowds at the Cambridge Science Centre stall.

The Centre's product development manager, Catherine Kottritsch, said they had brought a selection of their most popular exhibits, used to tour schools.

"It has been a busy day with people spending up to half an hour here, from four-year-olds to their parents," she said.

The Pitts family, of Bradford, was one of those making the most of the exhibits.

Dad Simon, his wife Catherine, and children Jack, 12, and Danny, nine, were fascinated by the infra red camera, providing revealing images of a banknote.

Mr Pitts said: "The lads were a bit hesitant at first, but now we can't get them away. We thought the exhibition would be really interesting for the kids and they have really enjoyed it."

Optical illusions and rope escape tricks were among the attractions at the Newcastle University Street Scientist display, which has been shortlisted for the Times Higher Education award.

Student Carl Jonsson, 22, explained that the spinning gun illusion fooled the watcher's brain into thinking that everything was going round in circles.

"Some people actually get very dizzy watching it," he added.

He said the complex topology of rope loops had entertained older people, and literally had them in knots, while youngsters had been intrigued by a plastic water bottle trick.