LARGS, Scotland UK — Three, two, one ... blast off!

Space enthusiasts were up for it at an astronomical event as Britain's largest amateur rocket was launched in Largs.

The rocket, named the Corpulent Stump, was blasted high over Kelburn Castle to mark the end of International Rocket Week, an annual event run by space enthusiasts.

Hundreds of rocket men and women watched in awe as the device reached around 6000ft before on-board technology guided it back to earth.

Bad weather delayed the launch, originally scheduled for Saturday, but those who had travelled from all over the world to the event were delighted to see the clear skies give way to a perfect launch yesterday after air traffic controllers gave the go-ahead.

The rocket, weighing 110lb, was helped on its way by £1000 worth of electronic guidance equipment and was powered by the same fuel used to propel space rockets.

It is designed to travel at around 500mph and can accelerate from zero-100mph in just over one second.

Many of the week's events were aimed at children, with a scale model competition and water-fuelled aquajets.

John Bonsor, the event's organiser, said it had been a fantastic week at the world's most scenic launch site and added: "Families, groups and individuals all participated it's all about rocket society as well as rocket science."

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