CRIME scene investigation is being used to boost the appeal of science to young people.

And, as part of its Euro4Science project, Skipton Girls' High School staged a CSI week, playing host to students from Poland, Bulgaria and Portugal, as well as from Skipton Academy and the town's Ermysted's Grammar School.

The idea was to design and develop CSI-related practical activities to promote relevant, engaging and interesting science.

Events were held in Skipton Girls' High School's new state-of-the-art £1.7 million purpose-built centre for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), which opened in December and was funded by a £1 million grant from the Department of Transport and through help from the local community.

The week of activities followed a visit to the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, by students and teachers from Ermysted's and Skipton Girls' High in March, and was precursor of a planned visit to Portugal by Skipton Academy and Skipton Girls later this month.

"These weeks are hosted by our partner schools and involve CSI activities and a full exchange programme, so students from the UK schools really get to know each other and work together," said a spokesman for Skipton Girls' High School.

"The Bulgarian students made us really welcome and strong relationships have been forged between the two nations."

Teachers hope the Euro4Science project – co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union – will have long-term benefits on a local level, too, by building relationships between the science departments of the three Skipton schools, as well as between Skipton students.

Indeed, the youngsters have already arranged to meet to play football on a Friday afternoon.

Other aims include building the confidence of students within a local and international stage and further developing the CSI 'toolkit' to promote even greater interest in science.

Follow-up activities include a possible joint visit to a pathology department and an annual joint science event.