Last updated at 19:59, Thursday, 24 May 2012

Children across Workington will get to take part in their own Olympic torch relay.

THEY’RE OFF: The Workington primary schools torch relay begins at Beckstone Primary School, Harrington, led by pupils Anna Smith, 10, Georgia Bradburn, 10, Reece Wilkinson, 11, and Kevin Denver, 10, with teacher Kimberley Harris and teaching assistant Sheryl McKeating

It is part of the Workington Olympics 2012 event involving local schools on June 12.

The torch set off from Beckstone Primary School, Harrington yesterday, with its own cycling security detail of year six pupils Anna Smith, Georgia Bradburn, Reece Wilkinson and Kevin Denver, accompanied by teacher Kimberly Harris and teaching assistant Sheryl McKeating.

Pupils lined the school entrance to see off the torch as it made its journey to Distington Community School.

Each school taking part in the games will have the torch for half a day and will then pass it on to the next school.

The torch will visit all 15 schools involved, arriving at Northside Primary School last.

Its pupils will walk it into the Derwent Park stadium for the event’s opening ceremony.

Judith Henderson, Beckstone school deputy head and event co-ordinator, said: “We thought it would be nice to have our own torch to mimic the London Olympics because it generates interest and excitement in the run-up to the event.

“It’s another way to unite the schools.”

The torch, made of polypropylene, was designed by the design technology department at St Joseph’s High School.

First published at 19:22, Thursday, 24 May 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk