A FAMILY festival of science fun is being held to celebrate the 50th birthday of Daresbury Laboratory.

A giant robot, space food and exploding custard will be among exciting attractions on Sunday, September 30, from 10am to 2pm.

Admission is free but tickets must be booked in advance.

Jane Binks, head of communications and outreach for Daresbury Laboratory, said: “Our mini festival will be a day of inspiration and explanation.

“There will be a multitude of fun things to do, but behind each one is a common theme, and that is that science is both fascinating and fun, touching every aspect of our lives, from food, to laptops to nature.

“We are looking forward to doing something really exciting for families in celebration of our 50th birthday, and at the same time, capturing the imaginations of our mini scientists of the future.”

Visitors will have the rare opportunity to walk through an interactive life-size model of the Large Hadron Collider tunnel and see part of the largest science experiment in the world, Younger children will be able to make UV bracelets that change colour in the sun, or key rings from ‘smart materials’.

They can sing to mini robots to make them dance as well as learn about moths and bees.

The exploding custard show promises to be one of the highlights of the day.

If you’re interested in the solar system, an out-of-this-world journey through space in the STARlab will appeal, followed by a look at some real moon rocks and meteorites.

Titan, an extraordinary robot, who has performed with Rihanna and toured with JLS, promises plenty of fun and games.

To book tickets, register at http://www.stfc.ac.uk/Public%20and%20Schools/1292.aspx.