DNA was extracted from squashed strawberries as pupils were given an insight to the inner world of science.

Throughout the week girls at Headington Prep school explored a range of areas and had the chance to get hands on with bubbles, aerodynamics and fuzzy felt.

On Wednesday parent and diabetes researcher Prof Anna Gloyn spent the day telling youngsters about her work and exploring areas including blood sugar and DNA –including smashing strawberries to expose the DNA, and taking it home in test tubes to show their parents.

Prof Gloyn said: "We had a full action packed day.

"We ran four workshops for the different age groups throughout the school.

"We extracted DNA from strawberries and did sessions around how much sugar is in food – and how much exercise you would have to do to burn it off.

"Each of the girls had the chance to finish the session with their own little tube of strawberry DNA."

Science Week is a regular event at the school and gives pupils the chance both to explore science and to get involved in real experiments.

Prof Gloyn, who is a professor of molecular genetics and metabolism at Oxford University, said she was impressed by the level of knowledge the pupils demonstrated.

She said: "We talked about how DNA was a very long molecule and we asked the girls how far it would stretch if you took it out.

"Some girls said to the moon and back and they were right.

"There were lots of questions about what DNA did and one of the girls knew that the 'a' stood for acid.

"Another said it was full of important stuff, which I thought was wonderful."

Prof Gloyn said the event was an important opportunity for her and her team to inspire young girls about science and the possibility of further study or a career in the field.

She said: "It was really exciting, even just the interactions and showing girls in particular that science is exciting.

"Taking my team of 20-year-old scientists and exposing young girls to that is really important because it shows science in a really positive manner.

"My team got a lot out of the interaction with the girls, and the girls were interested in what we did and had a lot of questions."