A LEADING Astrophysicist gave an in-depth talk about some of the more bizarre stars in the universe during a visit to a Wirral school this week.

More than 200 physics students heard the presentation by world-renowned scientist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell at Wirral Grammar School for Girls in Bebington on Monday.

Entitled 'In pursuit of Pulsars', the talk also covered the stars' amazing physics and time-keeping properties.

A recognised expert in her field, Dame Jocelyn is a leading light for women scientists.

The 66-year-old is one of the first women in the UK appointed Professor of Physics and President of the Institute of Physics.

It was during her postgraduate studies that Dame Jocelyn discovered the first radio pulsars.

Subsequent work with her supervisor, Anthony Hewish, started an entirely new area of astronomy and won Hewish a Nobel prize.

Following Monday's visit, Dame Jocelyn said: "It was great fun to be here with a lively bunch of students."

In the audience were pupils from a number of schools including Wirral Grammar School for Girls, Wirral Grammar School for Boys, The Oldershaw School, Wallasey, Upton Hall School and The Queen's School in Chester.

Among them was Anita Nandi, 17, from Heswall. She said "Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell explained complex physics concepts in a way that was accessible to everyone. We really enjoyed it."