A chat between Keighley students and cosmonauts in space had to be cut short - because Russian premier Vladimir Putin was on the other line.

The live link-up between the young Scouts and Guides and inhabitants of the international space station was the high point of the group's memorable trip to Russia.

They were taken to the mission control centre in charge of the international space mission and took part in the live link-up with an American and two Russians in the space station.

They were able to ask questions about life on the space station, but the interview was suddenly cut short because President Putin was trying to get through to the crew himself.

Vera Redman, divisional commissioner for Keighley, said: "When we visited mission control two of the scouts and guides were able to go into another room and were talking to the cosmonauts in space. They only got a few words in before Mr Putin cut in, he wanted to talk to them on his hotline."

Oakbank School student Alex Kinnaird, a member of the Keighley Explorer Scouts, said: "When we went to mission control you could see everything on a giant map on the wall, and we could hear people in space. The American was acting as a go-between and answering questions about what it felt like on take off, what it was like at zero gravity and what they missed. They said mainly food and family."

The eight-strong group went to Korolev, near Moscow, known as 'Space City' to document the 11th International Space Olympics and learn about Russia's history of space exploration.

The annual Space Olympics involves teams of youngsters from different countries - including three from the UK - competing in exams and exercises designed to test their science and technology expertise.

The trip was organised and funded through a joint project between Keighley College, Yorkshire Forward, the Learning and Skills Council, Girl Guiding UK and the Scout Association.

They are compiling a film documenting their experiences.

Alex said: "We will be spending a lot of time splicing footage and making presentations. I hope we can go back and hopefully enter a team to the Space Olympics next time."

Other young people who took part were Georgina King, Jennifer Allan, Rebecca Olsson, Laura Green, Sarah Ward, Savannah Astell-Burt and Jo Galacchi, all members of the Scout and Guide movement in Keighley.