Amateur radio users from around Essex have been receiving images beamed to Earth from the International Space Station.

To celebrate 20 years of astronauts contacting schoolchildren from the Space Station using amateur radio, a collection of historical images were sent to Earth.

The images were sent over a three-day period last weekend using equipment on the Russian module of the International Space Station.

Radio enthusiast, Pete Sipple, 47, from Leigh, is the chairman of Essex Ham, a group dedicated to amateur radio.

After managing decoding to view the images, Mr Sipple said: “For the last few days, some great images have been sent to Earth from the Space Station, and with basic radio equipment it’s been possible to receive and decode these pictures.

“The Space Station passes overhead several times a day, but due to its current orbit, it’s only been possible to receive these images in the early hours of the morning.”

Thanks to the South Essex Amateur Radio Society, a number of schools in the area have been able to talk directly to astronauts on the Space Station in recent years.

Furtherwick Park School made contact in 2005, as well as Winter Gardens Primary school in 2014, while Essex Ham helped St Michael’s School and Westcliff High School for Girls communicate with British astronaut, Tim Peake, live last year.

Mr Sipple added: “It’s a unique experience for the kids and one they will never forget.

“Radio is such an important part of our lives. Smartphones, Wi-fi, Bluetooth, GPS and TV all rely on radio signals.

“The ham radio hobby helps people learn more about how the technology works.

“Being able to tune in to pictures and voices from the Space Station is great at firing up the imagination of youngsters.

“It’s great to be able to help schools to listen to signals from space and to hopefully fire up the next generation of engineers.”

To learn more about amateur radio, visit essexhamradio.co.uk