A LEADING college name of the past will be helping science students to reach for the stars in future.

Last night marked the opening of the new multi-million pound Graystone Science Centre at St Mary's College in Blackburn.

It is named after former college principal Father Phillip Graystone (pictured above, centre, at the opening) who was at the helm of the Shear Brow school from 1953 to 1961.

The minister was the guest of honour at the opening ceremony as another old boy, Prof Kevin Kendall, a fellow of the Royal Society, performed the official launch. The Right Rev Thomas Burns, a former teacher at St Mary's and now Bishop of the Forces, blessed the new facility.

Leading educational figures from across Blackburn and East Lancashire were also in attendance.

A St Mary's College spokesman said: "Our new multi-million pound building has enabled us to offer the very best environment for our students' study, practical work and research." The new college building includes nine laboratories, with extra-large work stations, and purpose-built research rooms.