A STUDENT from Swindon has been presented with a platinum award by TV science presenter Dallas Campbell at the opening of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineer and Maths) building at Cirencester College on Friday.

Marcus Jones from Grange Park was awarded STEM’S highest, discretionary accolade.

"This honours Marcus’s exceptional participation and contribution as a STEM student and ambassador at the College before he left for university in the summer of 2016," said a spokesman for the college.

Marcus is now studying Astrophysics at the University of Exeter.

After officially opening the new building, Mr Campbell, delivered an amusing guest lecture in the Sundial Theatre,called ‘Dallas in Wonderland, Adventures in Science”.

"He took his audience on a world-wide journey to the very top of the world’s tallest building, not for those with a fear of heights, then to the sewers of Mexico and finally to experience the blast off of a Soyuz rocket at close range, which rocked the College’s theatre sound system. After engaging scientists and non-scientists alike, Dallas mingled with the 200 guests answering questions.

Cirencester Sixth Form College, was celebrating 25 years of providing post 16 education on Friday.

The STEM building houses research standard labs, a computer engineering suite and an art and design centre, alongside spacious classrooms for the wider STEM choices such as Earth Science and Psychology. The project, costing £2.8 million, was jointly funded by the GFirst’s “Gloucestershire Growth Deal”, the Education Funding Agency and the College.

Executive Principal of Cirencester College, Kim Clifford, said: “We are extremely proud of the new STEM building which gives us exciting opportunities to expand our already excellent track record in STEM subjects."