OXFORD scientists will get a closer look at mysterious dust storms on the planet Mars as the latest round of space exploration grants is announced.

More than £3million has been given out by the UK Space Agency to researchers who are seeking to gain a better understanding of space.

Oxford has received one of the biggest grants with almost £350,000 going to a group led by Professor Peter Read from the department of physics.

The money will be used to fund a study looking at the impact of dust storms on the Martian climate.

Mars is famous for its intense dust storms, which are sometimes the size of America and kick up enough dust to be seen by telescopes on earth.

The storms have fully enshrouded the whole planet twice since 1997.

The film the Martian opens with a powerful dust storm condemning Matt Damon to a lonely life on the planet.

In reality, winds are only thought to reach around 60 miles per hour, less than half the speed of some hurricane-force winds on Earth, according to NASA.

And the planet's thin climate means that even fast wins can cause little damage.

Mr Read has long studied the phenomena during his 26 years at Oxford.

His new project focusses on the Martian dust cycle, its impact on climate and the physical features of the Martian surface.

The rest of the money will be shared between 16 other teams working at UK research organisations.

Science minister Jo Johnson, said: "Science enables and shapes the UK's future in space exploration.

"This government funding will play a vital role in ensuring UK academics can continue to study the secrets of our solar system, from the polar regions of the moon to the potential of life on Mars.

"Research and innovation are at the core of our Industrial Strategy, and by investing in these types of projects, we are reinforcing our position as a world leader in these important and exciting areas."