The youngsters ran legs between a number of primary schools carrying a Winter Olympics torch – before they got to see the torch that was used during the 1948 Summer Olympic Games in London.

The event centred around Hartlepool's Dyke House Sports and Technology College to mark the games in Vancouver, which get underway later this month, and to raise awareness of sport and potential achievement.

Dyke House pupils Stephen Oliver, Laura Davies and Jessica McKenna ran the first leg of the relay, taking a mock torch to Holy Trinity, where a number of its pupils took it on to Golden Flatts.

The others schools on the route were St Aidan's Primary, Stranton Primary, Lynnfield Primary, Ward Jackson Primary, Jesmond Road Primary and Brougham Primary, before a return to Dyke House where an original torch from the London Olympics in 1948 was put on display.

All of the primary schools which took part in the relay are feeder schools for Dyke House, chosen to showcase the event because of its sports college status.

During the relay legs the pupils were monitored by a support car and a community police escort.

The pupils were accompanied on the 10-mile relay by Dyke House headteacher Bill Jordon and Donna Park, the school's co-ordinator of sports specialism, who said the event linked in with a number of universities across the region and the Talented Athletes Scholarship Scheme.

Donna said: "It raises awareness of what can be achieved if children and young people put their minds to it.

"It also marks our first year of sports and technology status."
After each leg the pupils were taken to Dyke House to await the arrival of the real torch at the end of the two-and-a-half hour event.

Mr Jordon said: "There was a fantastic reception at each primary school.
"We are delighted to be part of a fantastic event aimed at improving the wellbeing of children and young people in the community.

"Current primary school children are at an age now where they can be thinking about competing in Olympic events in the future.

"It's brilliant for Dyke House and this area of the town to be involved with something that can set them on their way to greater achievements."