SIXTH-formers from across the region were yesterday given the rare chance to examine the cast of a three-and-a-half million year-old skull of early man.

The year 12 pupils are taking part in a summer school organised by Durham University to give teenagers a taste of student life.

About 130 youngsters from schools in the North-East, Bradford and Stoke are attending the six-day residential school.

They will study one of nine subjects, including anthropology, biological sciences, chemistry, business, economics and finance, law, geological sciences, philosophy, French and physics.

Yesterday, would-be anthropologists attended their first lecture under the guidance of Research Fellow Dr Emma Gilberthorpe.

In a practical afternoon session, the undergraduates- to-be were given the opportunity to compare the skull of one of their early ancestors with that of a modern day human skull.

"Anthropology is not a subject taught in schools and the students were fascinated and had plenty of questions," said Dr Gilberthorpe.

The summer school is based at St Aidan's College on the University's Durham campus.