Curious children are probing the night skies above Norfolk with crystal clear views thanks to a £2,500 donation from a house building company.

Diss Mercury: Mulbarton School pupil Amy Fiddeman tries out the telescope.Picture: Angela Sharpe PhotographyMulbarton School pupil Amy Fiddeman tries out the telescope.Picture: Angela Sharpe Photography (Image: Angela Sharpe Photography 2018)

Long Stratton-based Crocus has provided a donation to the How Hill Trust in Ludham, near Great Yarmouth, which has used the funds to buy an astronomical scope and educational books for school children.

The scope and books will benefit children aged between seven and eleven from across Norfolk and north Suffolk, who regularly travel to How Hill for educational stays arranged through their schools.

The scope is fully computerised and fitted with GPS so that it can automatically focus on different constellations at the touch of a button, with the images also shown on a television so that as many children as possible can see them and learn more about the universe.

Crocus chooses a charity to support every year and donated the money as part of its commitment to supporting the local community.

Andy Radford, chairman of Crocus Homes, said: “We are committed to supporting our local community, and are delighted that we have been able to fund this brilliant new educational resource for the How Hill Trust.

We hope that it will make a real difference to the hundreds of children who use the centre every year by boosting their education, sparking their imagination and providing them with a crystal clear view of the constellations which make up our galaxy.”

Simon Partridge, director at the How Hill Trust, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Crocus Homes for this fantastic donation. We have been keen to introduce an astronomical scope for some time, but without their generosity it simply would not have been possible.

“We are absolutely delighted with the scope.

“It has been really well received by everyone who has used it so far, and will help to both educate and inspire hundreds of children who stay with us every year.”

In the Great Yarmouth area Crocus Homes continue to work on two large private housing developments at Reedham Road and Springfield in Acle.

For information on residential school visits go to https://howhilltrust.org.uk/