A SECONDARY school has revealed ambitious plans to build Bolton's first observatory.

Sharples School has launched the exciting bid to site it on the roof of the school's STEM — science, technology, engineering and maths — Centre.

Head of science Caroline Molyneux, who is a member of the National Space Academy, said: "This will be the first in Bolton — the nearest is on the other side of Preston.

"The £18,000 state-of-the-art observatory with a 2.7-metre dome follows the launch of the school's first GCSE astronomy after school course."

And not only would pupils use it, members of the community and organisations would also use it to capture images of the night sky and view neighbouring planets as interest in the astronomy grows thanks to programmes such as Stargazing Live fronted by Brian Cox.

So successful has the course been led by deputy headteacher Mukesh Singadia, a long standing member of the school, the school want to name the new development the Singadia Observatory.

Bolton Rotary Club has come on board and sharing their expertise, helping to manage the project.

Miss Molyneux said: “We are so pleased to have the club onboard with the project, they have some highly qualified people who can help.

“We are now in the process of raising £18,000 for the observatory which the Parents Teachers Association which are involved with organising fundraising events and we would really like to hear from anyone else who can help.”

The school has previously hosted an event with Dr Chris Smith co-presenter on the popular BBC TV’s Sky at Night programme who was invited to give a talk by the Bolton Astronomical Society

Miss Molyneux said: “The observatory would be open to the community for those who are just interested in astronomy.

“We already run GCSE courses in science for adults and may put on a GCSE astronomy course for them.

“I know someone who left school went back to do a GCSE in astronomy because she was interested in it and has now had photographs she had taken published.

“It is something when you see the plants, Jupiter and particularly Saturn and you can see the rings.

“It will put Bolton on the map, it will fantastic for the town.”

Anyone who can help donate or fundraise towards the observatory should email Miss Molyneux on c.molyneux@sharplesschool.co.uk