Top radio deejay Simon Mayo stepped out of the studio and into Reigate Grammar School (RGS) recently to meet pupils with a thirst for science.

The Radio 2 presenter and author of the Itch series of science fiction books visited the school as part of its line-up of events marking Science Week.

And he told a packed audience of pupils how he had first approached RGS head of Chemistry, Edd Roberts, some years earlier for emergency chemistry lessons which related to a science-based story he wanted to write.

The lessons were clearly a success as the DJ-author's first book Itch, is now a best-seller, with a second in the series, Itch Rocks, due out in paperback later this month, and a third book in the series due out in the autumn.

First Form students were gripped as Simon revealed key elements of the book’s plot, explained the influence of science on the story, and brought its main character to life.

And he teamed up with Mr Roberts again, rounding off his talk with some ‘fire and explosion-based' experiments.

Students then had their copies of Simon’s book signed, before it was the Third Form students’ turn to quiz Simon on his science fiction writing expertise, in preparation for their own writing projects. The English/Science writing project for the Third Form was one of a number of cross-curricular projects that took place during RGS Science Week.