SCIENTISTS from near and far gathered in Malvern’s Priory Park to help inspire the next generation of brilliant brains.

Hundreds of young people attended the Science in the Park event which organized by Innovate Malvern and was formally opened by MP Harriett Baldwin on Saturday.

Volunteers representing the major science industry bodies ran demonstrations and experiments to show youngsters the wonders of science.

Highlights of the event included the cracking-open of a geological nodule by palaeontologist Dr Mark O'Dell to reveal a perfectly formed ammonite fossil that had probably lived some 180 million years ago.

Steve Dawes from the Malvern Raspberry Pi Jam club demonstrated a solar-powered weather station and a 3D-printed sundial that made the most of the sunny weather.

Worcester Astronomical Society also benefited from the clear skies to image solar flare activity with a specially-modified telescope.

Richard Henson from the BCS Chartered Institute for IT arrived in his Tardis as George Boole and Nicky Thomas from the Institute of Physics enthused everyone with the properties of liquid carbon dioxide.

Matt Ward, a research physicist in radiation oncology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, explained targeted radiotherapy in a engaging way using a Nerf gun.

Organiser Dr Adrian Burden said: "Science in the Park inspired hundreds of budding scientists and engineers with rocket demonstrations, geology samples, physics experiments, chemistry talks, and medical science games to list but a few of the activities.

“We had a really successful event and are incredibly grateful to all the organisations and volunteers who gave their time and resources to support the event.”

Prof Paul Hardaker, chief executive of the Institute of Physics, said: "It was great to see so many families in the sunshine enjoying Science in the Park.

"There are few other places where people of all ages have the opportunity to come along, experience the breadth and depth of science and how it impacts on all our daily lives, learn something new and have a lot of fun at the same time. You could see that happening all over Priory Park on Saturday.

"Malvern has clearly hit on a winning combination and I’m sure those who came along will already be making a diary date for next year.”

Mrs Baldwin said: “Some very clever people have lived and worked in Malvern and I am confident that events like these will engage and inform yet more people to pursue science."