It was flash, bang wallop at the National Media Museum today when a TV science presenter performed a light and colour show for Bradford pupils.

About 400 children from schools in the Holme Wood, Tyersal and Tong areas were treated to a display of smoke rings, prism images, coloured fireballs and a three-foot-high green and orange tornado by Sky One's Brainiac presenter, Dr Marty Jopson.

As part of Bradford Council's extended schools programme, the pupils were invited to the museum for the science show and an Imax Safari film.

Dr Jopson wowed the pupils at Tong Secondary School, St John's CE Primary, Ryecroft Primary, St Columbus Catholic Primary, Fearnville Primary, Knowleswood Primary and Carrwood Primary with his optical illusions, whizzbangs and weird experiments, giving them an insight into the world of science.

Sandra Corcoran, the Council's extended schools project manager, said: "It is an opportunity for all the children to mix together and go out to a museum, which is important for their educational development. Some of the pupils haven't been to the media museum before, even though it's on their doorstep.

"This is a really good example of the schools working together to meet the Government's extended schools and every child matters' agenda."

Dr Marty Jopson said: "It is important to encourage children to be interested in science as they are growing up in a scientific world but most people's scientific knowledge in is woefully low.

"In fact, people are actually proud of how little they understand about science. For me, not knowing about science is like saying you've not heard of Shakespeare."

Hannah Coubrough, ten, of St Columbus school, was one of the pupils watching the show.

She said: "We learned about how light travels in straight lines and the names of some of the famous scientists.

"My favourite bit of the show was the spinning tornado, which was green and orange."

Santokh Bussan, 12, of Tong School, was also watching the show.

He said: "It is important to see shows like this because it makes you interested in science.

"At school, in science, we did an experiment with a Bunsen burner, water and a coke can and made an explosion - but these ones are much bigger."