SCIENTISTS from around the world will be gathering at a North-East mine to develop technology for space exploration.

Boulby potash mine in east Cleveland will play host to scientific researchers over the next fortnight as they carry out work to help find out more about the Moon and Mars.

Scientists from across Europe and the US, as well as from NASA and the Kalam Centre in India, will be taking part in a project deep in the mine, testing a wide range of equipment.

The event - which will also be attended by an astronaut with the European Space Agency - is being hosted at the mine’s Boulby Underground Laboratory, one of just a handful of facilities world-wide suitable for deep underground science projects.

Included in the programme will be the chance for schools children to access live feeds from a kilometre underground, showing the planetary scientists at work.

Marc Kirsten, managing director at Cleveland Potash, said: “We are delighted to welcome the team of scientists who will be with us over the next fortnight.

"Since the Boulby Underground Laboratory was first set up in the early 1990s we have worked very closely together and now, of course, it is recognised as an internationally-important facility hosting an impressive range of world-leading studies.”

Sean Paling, director and senior scientist at Boulby Underground Laboratory, added: "Boulby has hosted the UK’s Dark Matter studies for a number of years, operating some of the most sensitive equipment in the world.

“In more recent times we have developed a range of other research programmes which can only be carried out in a facility such as Boulby."

Last month, The Northern Echo revealed that Sirius Minerals was understood to be in talks with Israeli Chemicals Ltd (ICL), the owner of the Boulby potash mine about a potential sale of the plant.