IT wasn’t quite outer space, but it was the next best thing for 81-year-old John Alderson, who had a lifelong dream fulfilled.

Mr Alderson, known as Tommy, had always dreamt of going into space, so staff at Bridge View Care home in Choppington, Northumberland, arranged an invitation to the Life Science Centre in Newcastle.

He visited on Monday along with special guests for a VIP demonstration of the centre’s planetarium before doors opened to the public.

The state-of-the-art facility shows films about space and has various stunning visual attractions.

Ian Simmons, Life’s Science Communication Director, said: “Life has dealt with some odd requests during the 16 years we’ve been open, but giving Tommy a VIP space experience was certainly an unusual one. However, we were more than happy to offer up our planetarium to accommodate such an avid space fan.”

To top off his VIP experience Mr Alderson and his guests toured the rest of the Science Centre, including the exhibition ANIMAL INSIDE OUT, which features more than 100 real animal specimens preserved through plastination.

Ann Mielnik of Bridge View, said: “When Tommy asked to go to space we just looked at each other and thought how on Earth? But thanks to Life we have been able to offer him an amazing experience.”