ROCKETS launched with the stamp of a foot, edible stars, and finding meteorite dust with magnets, were among the space-themed activities enjoyed by more than 200 young members of Girlguiding Gwent.

A two-day event at the Caldicot site of telecommunications giant Mitel saw girls from Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers groups across Gwent find out about the career opportunities available in space and related industries, as well as using hands-on experiences to learn more.

The event stemmed from Bassaleg six-year-old Lexie Morgan's fondness for all things galactic - and her wish for a career in space technology when she grows up.

This in turn inspired her guide leader mum Sam Morgan to take to e-mail and social media last year to ask for help in developing activities for a special space-themed Reach For The Stars badge.

Edinburgh-based space launch technology firm Skyrora replied, and the result was the weekend gathering of girls keen to find out more about space exploration, the engineering behind it, and how they might forge careers in it.

The company is involved in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) Ambassador Programme, helping teach young people across the UK about careers linked to these subjects.

One estimate suggests that in just six years' time there will be seven million new STEM-related jobs, but not enough qualified people to fill them, unless more is done to promote these sectors as possible career paths.

At the same time, women continue to be under-represented in STEM-related jobs, occupying only a quarter of such positions.

"It's been a great event, and Skyrora and everyone involved have been brilliant in giving their time, their expertise and their enthusiasm,", said Mrs Morgan.

"I think a lot of that enthusiasm has rubbed off on the girls. They've got a lot out of it.

"Lexie has an enormous enthusiasm for this sort of thing, and it's nice to be able to give others the opportunity to have some fun while at the same time hopefully planting some ideas about careers that they might not have otherwise considered."