Pupils at South Craven School got a chilling display of sub-zero science when a top scientist visited the school this week.

Dr Mervyn Black, a lecturer in applied physics at Salford University, near Manchester, performed a series of spectacular experiments on Tuesday to show students at the Cross Hills school that science really can be cool.

Dr Black used liquid nitrogen, which has to be kept at temperatures below -196c, to shatter flowers into tiny pieces, make a hammer out of mercury, which at room temperature is a liquid, and drive a rubber nail into a block of wood.

The lecture is one of the Christmas lectures given by The Royal Institution of Great Britain to schoolchildren.

David Royle, RIGB regional lecture co-ordinator, said: "We have a regional programme in the north of England to take science lectures into schools.

"The children seemed to enjoy it, you could tell by the jumping up and down."

The event was organised by biology teacher Karen Eastwood and key stage three co-ordinator Liz Ascroft after an after-school science club sparked a huge interest among the younger pupils.

Eleven-year-old Lucas Uren said: "It was really good, really funny. He showed us the things that liquid nitrogen can do and how to make electricity and stuff. I liked science anyway but it made me want to have more science lessons!"

Dr Mervyn Black surprises pupils Sarah Birtley and Samantha Brown with one of his scientific experiments (above)