A ROCKET nose on display at Highworth Library is encouraging children to learn about space.

The nose cone of a Skylark sounding rocket was loaned by Geoffrey Eastwood, 75, of Brookfield in Highworth.

Mr Eastwood acquired the nose-head when he worked for the Science Research Council, which is now the Swindon-based Particle Physics and Astronomy Council. He said: "Many years ago I was manager of part of a programme responsible for organising experiments on the rocket.

"After the programme finished in about 1980 there were various bits left over and we were able make offers for them. The nose cone usually stands in my garden as a piece of statuary."

Library manager Jenny Selwood said the rocket and display on space had captured the children's imagination. The ceiling has been painted like the night sky with stars and planets and children's paintings cover the walls.

She said: "We've been really busy. They loved the rocket head and they were showing their parents."

The Skylark was an important part of the British Space programme for 20 years.

The rocket was used to carry out experiments on the upper atmosphere and ionosphere as well as used for X-ray astronomy.