Pupils at a primary school got up close and personal with meteorites and moon rocks from space.

Holy Family Catholic School, in Shernhall Street, Walthamstow, hosted a collection of moon rock samples for a week.

The collection includes meteorites that fell to Earth from space and which are billions of years old.

Bill O'Pare, 11, said: “Today I touched some of the oldest things in the world and it felt like a privilege.”

Patryk Abramczyk, 11, said: “It was really interesting especially the mass of the objects compared to their size. 

“It was surprising that our school would get such objects.”

The samples, provided by the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) were collected in the 1960s and 1970s during NASA’s space missions to the moon.

While most of the collection is used by scientists in their studies, samples are taken to schools to educate pupils about astronomy.

STFC Chief Executive Officer, Professor John Womersley, said: “This is a great opportunity for young people to be able to see, touch and really experience such important and exciting messengers from space, turning science fiction into science fact. 

“It’s an unforgettable experience to be able to hold such an important part of science history that has made such an incredible journey over millions of miles to reach us and one we hope will inspire the scientists of the future.”