A newdigital comic developed in Bristol is helping primary school children learn more about science.

Dr Emma Weitkamp, from the science communication unit at the University of the West of England, has created the resource for children aged eight to 11.

The comic's website, www.sciencecomics.uwe.ac.uk, also includes support materials for teachers such as games, quizzes and ideas for experiments. The comics and the resources are all free.

In the stories Selenia, the schoolgirl heroine, travels from her alien planet to Earth, where she makes two friends.

Through her adventures, children develop an understanding of the properties of materials, such as the difference between gases, solids and liquids.

Dr Weitkamp said: "The stories are full of action, magic and fun and are designed to give children the opportunity to explore science in unconventional ways. The main character, Selenia has magical powers and can control the scientific properties of materials.

"Teachers we have consulted have been enthusiastic about the comic, which is in digital format and can be used on a whiteboard in the classroom. For teachers, one of the successes of the comic has been the ability to stimulate an interest in reading as well as science in students who did not normally enjoy these topics."

More than 50 teachers and 150 children were consulted during development of the comic, which was funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry.