Tracey GrayA children's science centre which had to close because of problems with the building's bell tower is to re-open again on Monday .Tracey Gray

A children's science centre which had to close because of problems with the building's bell tower is to re-open again on Monday .

Inspire Discovery Centre, based inside St Michael's Church in Oak Street, Norwich, had to close its doors just before Christmas when its heating gave up the ghost.

Then, returning after the Christmas break, they found a chunk of flint had fallen from the 13th-century bell tower.

But now the bulging flint on the building, which is owned by the Norwich Historic Churches Trust, has been repaired by a specialist worker, who used ropes to climb down the outside of the tower.

It will now re-open on Monday in time for the school half-term holidays.

Shell Fearn, manager of the centre, said: 'We are getting lots of volunteers in over the weekend to help us get ready and have a good old spring clean.

'We have lots of things coming up for the school half-term in February so while we have been closed we have been busy focusing on getting those set-up.'

One of those events is a special free session of writing activities for children inside the Forum building on Millennium Plain, Norwich, on Wednesday, February 17 from 11am-12pm.

The event is be aimed mainly at seven-11 year olds and will give children the chance to take part in some activities to get the imagination going and getting them thinking about creative writing.

The session is being run to coincide with the Inspire Discovery Centre Writing Competition that has just been launched.

Entry is open to all ages, entries can be anything up to 3,000 words and have some element of science in it somewhere however imaginary or real it may be.

During February half-term the centre will also have a theme of weird science. The week will include workshops including one where slime is made into bouncy balls. There will also be a forensics challenge.

For details on any of the events or the creative writing competition, call Inspire on 01603 612612

More information about the centre is also available online at www.inspirediscoverycentre.com.

Do you have a story for the Evening News? If so contact reporter Tracey Gray on 01603 772418 or email tracey.gray@archant.co.uk