A CHEMICAL engineer is sparking renewed interest in science at school with a new business venture.

Claire Holt set up Flashbang Science to share her lifetime passion for chemistry with primary school pupils.

The initiative, launched earlier this year, sees Claire, of Helmshore, take a mobile lab into schools to offer students a hands-on experience of chemistry.

Pupils are shown how science plays its part in electricity, volcanoes and even the making of jelly babies.

Claire, a chemist with 25 years experience who has worked for pharmaceutical giants Fisons and Astra-Zeneca, said: “My aim with Flashbang Science is to show children at a very young age that science can be exciting and fascinating.

“These days very few primary schools have the facilities to carry out experiments safely so, with Flashbang Science, my plan is to bring the mobile lab to the schools.

“We can set the lab up quickly, safely and easily and, although it is very early days yet, the idea has been warmly welcomed by the heads, teachers and pupils I have spoken to.”

The Government has long laboured over ways to make science more attractive to schoolchildren.

And Claire believes such work is vital if Britain is to continue its proud history of scientific innovation.

She said: “The UK in general, and the North West in particular, has a great tradition for producing technological breakthroughs.

“I have had a wonderful career in science and I want to make youngsters aware of how interesting it can be.

“I believe that if you can enthuse people early, you have a chance of reversing that trend.”

Cork-born Claire is a full member of the Institute of Chemical Engineers and also works as a business advisor to start-up firms.