Children and shoppers puzzled over science activities and experiments.

Games set up by the education charity, Oxford Trust, kept visitors busy at Templars Square shopping centre, in Cowley, Oxford, on Saturday.

The event launched the trust's 11th annual two-week festival, which highlights its work in the county's schools.

Festival manager Anne Lechelle said: "We use art to promote science in the curriculum and make people realise that science is part of life."

Three evening lectures for adults will be delivered, including a talk entitled Innovation Lecture , at the Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, on Thursday at 6.30pm.

The festival ends on February 3 with Sci-Art Sunday, a series of workshops at Oxford Upper School, in Glanville Road.