Students are being encouraged to gaze into space after a school’s astronomy dome was opened.

The dome was donated by Atilla and Jacqueline Barrett-Kansaran who are parents at Chigwell School after Mrs Kansaran’s father, who was a keen astronomer, passed away.

The dome was re-assembled at the site and opened by astronomer, author and TV personality Will Gater on Friday.

It will help pupils of all ages attending the weekly meetings of The Chigwell Astronomy Society learn about the night sky.

Mr Gater said: “I saw many parallels at Chigwell to my own start in astronomy.

“I wish you all the very best of luck with the new dome and am certain that Chigwell School has a great future in astronomy and science."