Three teachers from the UK have won a scholarship to receive astronaut training at an American space centre.

The astronauts will be taught about space exploration

Bob Frost, from Dover, Kent, Oliver Woolley, from Steyning, West Sussex and Paul Pearse from Christchurch, Dorset, will attend the course.

They will take part in jet simulation and scenario-based space missions at the US Space and Rocket Centre in Huntsville, Alabama.

The course aims to get more children to pursue careers in science and maths.

Hundreds of teachers

Mr Frost, who teaches at Dover Grammar School for Boys, Mr Woolley, who works at Steyning Grammar School and Mr Pearce, from Highcliffe School, managed to beat 1,000 science and maths teachers from across the world to win places on the course.

They had to submit a 500-word essay describing the tools and techniques they use to motivate students to study science-related careers.

The teachers will join 200 others from 19 countries and 43 American states on the 13-day course which is set to run from 16 June.

Larry Capps, chief executive officer of the US Space and Rocket Centre, said: "UK teachers will learn activities that they can take back and implement in the classroom."

The course is funded by Honeywell International, a manufacturer of civil and military aerospace products.