IF there have been aliens in Bentham this week, then youngsters from Bentham Primary School will have found them.

The pupils from early years and Key Stage One have been busy using their investigative skills to search for an alien invasion in the town.

The mission was part of a geography topic to help develop the children's knowledge of the world around them.

They learned about the local shops and businesses and found lots of alien foot and hand prints in the shops. It made the children think about what the strange visitors may have purchased during their visit.

One alien, it transpired, had bought some lamb chops from the butcher's shop while another called in for a hair cut at the hairdressers.

Another is believed to have visited an estate agent to buy a house.

"Can we say an absolutely massive thank you to the local businesses in Bentham who took part in our investigation and helped children on their learning mission?" said early years and KS1 lead and class teacher Sarah Richardson.