Hey Duggee rocket toy makes cosmic journey

The Hey Duggee toy travelled on a stratospheric balloon powered by hydrogen gas

A transforming rocket toy has made a cosmic journey, reaching 120,000ft (36.5km) before coming back down to Earth, BBC Studios has said.

Inspired by the animated children's show, the Hey Duggee toy travelled on a stratospheric balloon powered by hydrogen gas.

It was launched from a site in Sheffield, travelling for about 90 minutes.

It returned back to Earth close to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

The launch site was moved from the original designated location in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, at late notice due to weather conditions.

'Ignite imaginations'

The toy's journey was engineered as part of the Hey Duggee Space Week and the mission will be presented by astrophysicist and comedian Dr Josie Peters.

Images show the rocket toy floating above the Earth, before parachuting back down.

To send the Duggee Rocket into orbit sustainably, BBC Studios said it partnered with aerospace company Sent Into Space.

Harriet Newby-Hill, from BBC Studios, said the journey would "ignite young imaginations on the wonder of space", while Dr Chris Rose, from Sent Into Space, added the project was "very exciting".

Hey Duggee is a CBeebies television series aimed at two to five-year-olds, and is narrated by actor and presenter Alexander Armstrong.