HE has appeared in episodes of television series such as Minder and The Professionals in the 1980s.

But actor Peter Joyce had other laws in mind this week when he visited Lowestoft to bring the world of science alive for youngsters.

His entertaining one-man shows, which portray the lives of scientists Galileo and Sir Isaac Newton, were part of a series of educational lectures held at the Denes High School.

More than 800 Denes pupils attended the event on Wednesday and yesterday, and they were joined by pupils from middle schools and primary schools.

'With the schools organisational review taking place in the Lowestoft area this year, our school feels it is important to have a collaborative approach to events,' said Julie Mayo, the Denes High's business and enterprise co-ordinator.

'As well as our own students being involved in the performances, and students from the middle schools, we have invited students from seven of the local primary schools over the course of the two-day visit, therefore many students will have this opportunity to participate in this exciting visit.'

Dressed as the two great scientists, Mr Joyce delivered enthusiastic and interactive performances.

The visit was sponsored by the Cambridge and Great Eastern section of the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI), which agreed to sponsor the event to help popularise science and inspire students.

'Over the two days Peter Joyce portrayed Sir Isaac Newton, recounting his work on fluxions, the spectrum of colours, the reflecting telescope, gravity and other forces, while presenting a history of the exciting times in which he lived,' said Julie.

'As Galileo, he looked at his character, the movement of the pendulum and the measurement of time, the law of falling bodies and universal dynamics, to name but a few.'

Mr Joyce, who was formerly employed by the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Society of Chemistry, has spent two years working for the National Trust as custodian of Woolsthorpe Manor, in Lincolnshire, where Sir Isaac was born in 1642.

The actor now divides his time between his two companies: Past Present Science, giving costumed lectures, and Assembled Stories, recording classical literature audio books in which he uses humour to enliven science.