MORE than 1,000 pupils from seven Yarmouth schools joined forces on Monday to take part in a mock Olympic torch relay along the seafront.

Youngsters from North Denes Junior School started the relay in North Drive at 1.15pm and it reached Wellington Pier by 2.45pm where it was handed to Greenacre Primary School for the final leg taking it back to their school.

The torch, which was made by a local carnival club, was passed from each school as it was handed from pupil to pupil from each of the seven Great Yarmouth schools: St George’s Infant and Nursery, St Nicholas Priory Junior, Alderman Swindell Infant, Northgate St Andrew Infant, North Denes Junior, Great Yarmouth High School and Greenacre Primary.

Melodie Fearns, headteacher at St George’s, said: “The children have been working on Olympic projects all year and they have all been working together on athletic events.

“The children really enjoyed it and they are looking forward to seeing the Olympic torch when it passes through Great Yarmouth next week.”

North Denes pupil Patrick Farrell, nine, said: “We have been learning interesting facts about the Olympics in school. It’s important that we learn about the Olympics in school because it teaches you to never give up.”

Abi Shaw, 10, added: “It’s good that our school started with the torch and it’s nice to be a part of the day. It was a fun thing to do.”

The schools are preparing for their own mini games that will take place in July over two days, and will involve every primary school child from the schools in the area and representatives from the High School and John Grant Special School in Caister. Monday also marked World Sports Day, part of the pre-Olympics celebrations.