CHILDREN'S television presenter Johnny Ball showed pupils how science can be fun when he visited a Middlesbrough school yesterday.

He was at Newlands School, in Saltersgill Avenue, to launch its bid to become a specialist science college, and spent time taking pupils for lessons.

Despite the rain he rounded off his visit with a bang, setting off a fireworks display as their guest of honour.

"They were smashing kids and we had some real laughs and talked about how important science and technology is," said Johnny.

"But I don't think some of them recognised me because I haven't been on telly for a long time, although some of the teachers did."

Johnny is back on TV every weekday from June 2 with a regular feature on The Terry And Gaby Show, on Channel Five.

Deputy headteacher Steve Wing said: "He was a real star and it was tremendously successful."