FIVE schools in Bolton and Bury are fighting for the chance to take part in a major "rocket science" competition in America.

The winning team of six will be the only one from the UK to compete with American schools at US Aerospace Challenge 2003 in Holland, Michigan next June or July.

Teams are provided with a kit and relevant information to help them build rockets which are capable of travelling at 600 mph and up to 4,000 ft above Lake Michigan.

The annual event, which involves the rockets being retrieved after falling into the lake, gets major coverage on American television.

The challenge is being co-ordinated locally by Bolton & Bury Education Business Partnership and is sponsored by Double R Controls Ltd -- a scientific engineering company based at Pennine Business Park, Heywood.

Mr Neal Rothwell, who is the company's Managing Director, has professional links with the US government.

When he was invited to see the annual competition at Lake Michigan he made the contacts which have led to a chance for a local school.

Rivington and Blackrod have two teams and the others taking part are Westhoughton High School, Mount St Joseph, Derby High School, Bury and Elms Bank High School, also Bury.

The initiative is designed to involve youths and their teachers in science, mathematics, physics and applied technology through the construction and launch of high-powered rockets.

About 120 pupils, parents and teachers met at the Last Drop, Bromley Cross this week to hear David Beeton from the UK Rocket Association outline health and safety issues and explain how the competition will work.

Teams will work in school on their projects and give Last Drop presentations on their work on November 21 and Jan 23. There will be a UK test launch in Lincoln -- at an enthusiast's premises called Pete's Rockets -- at the end of February and the winning team will be announced at a dinner on March 27.

Charlotte Chadwick, Director of the Bolton and Bury Education Business Partnership, said: "We are delighted to be involved in this unique, exciting initiative." "It is amazing to think that pupils from Bolton & Bury will be the first ever from the UK to participate in this opportunity. "As an EBP we extend sincere gratitude to Double R Controls for their pivotal role in making this happen." There is an opportunity for a Bolton and Bury firm to have a sponsorship logo on the UK rocket which competes in America.

Anybody interested can contact Louise Silous, Marketing and PR Co-ordinator for the EBP, on 01204 375790.

WHAT A BLAST: From left, Paul Wild from the Bolton Evening News (one of the judges), Neal Rothwell, David Beeton, Louise Silous, Ken Cunliffe, Technical Sales at Double R Controls and Charlotte Chadwick.