ACADEMICS from the North East are leading pivotal projects on one of the biggest science collaborations in history.

Aptly named the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), the £1.1bn project will take shape in Chile over the next decade.

The E-ELT, which will be similar in size to Wembley Stadium, will collect 15 times more light than any existing telescope and will produce images 16 times sharper than the Hubble space-based telescope.

The venture aims to make huge strides toward our understanding of the universe, the effects of dark matter and planets outside our solar system.

Scientists from Durham University will be supporting the project by helping to build and research instrument parts for the E-ELT.

Professor Simon Morris, the university’s deputy head of physics, said: “Every area of astronomy, from planets around other stars through to the study of the first galaxies formed in the universe, will be revolutionised.

“Astonishing discoveries will be made possible by the huge collecting area and fantastic detail that can be resolved by E-ELT. This announcement comes just after an international meeting in Germany to discuss the science and instruments planned for the E-ELT.”