A FAMOUS botanist enjoyed a reunion with a former research colleague as well as meeting scientists of the future yesterday.

Former Durham University lecturer Dr David Bellamy, who went on to earn celebrity status as a botanist and environmental campaigner, returned to the city to bestow science specialist status on Framwellgate School.

The visit of the Weardale broadcaster was the culmination of a series of events started during National Science Week, last week, to mark the recently earned recognition for the school. It has subsequently been named as one of nine regional science learning centres, to improve the teaching of science subjects.

It involves £2m worth of funding being invested in the school, with a science learning block already under construction on site.

During yesterday's visit Dr Bellamy, and Phil Ramsden, Northern regional officer for science education, judged a Science Week competition among year seven and eight pupils.

Pupils Leanne Baston, Emma Fidler, Laura Henry and Annah Thompson, representing class 7HC, won engraved plaques for their coin-cleaning study Money Laundering.

The special guest then visited a laboratory, named in his honour, to discuss science with students.

He rounded off with a site visit to the nearby Carrs' nature reserve, where sixth- form biologists have been carrying out research.

Yesterday's events were organised by school head of science, Dr Phil Sanderson, who worked with Dr Bellamy while at Durham University in 1972.