GENERATIONS of Huddersfield schoolchildren have been told: Never look at the Sun!

But now they can - thanks to astronomers and their new telescope.

Huddersfield Astronomical and Philosophical Society spent £10,000 on the telescope, solar filter and accessories, especially for the Venus Transit.

After that, they want to take the highly-specialist piece of kit out to schools and groups.

President Lisa Jeffries says: "As far as we know, our American Coronado Sky 90 telescope is the only one in West Yorkshire.

"We think there won't be more than five like ours in the UK.

"It's possible to look at the sun through a normal telescope with a filter. But this one is so much better.

"You can see wisps of flame coming from the Sun. Its surface is actually quite mottled. You can also see sunspots, dark circles caused by radiation."

Venus crosses the Sun next Tuesday morning, appearing as a black disc across its surface. The spectacle will last six hours.

Scores of people are set to visit the society's observatory at Crosland Hill, where telescopes will be set up.

* Take care! That's the message to people wanting to look at the phenomenon. Eyesight can suffer permanent damage unless safeguards are taken.

Even looking through sunglasses and photographic film will be totally inadequate.