SCHOOLCHILDREN proudly ran through the streets of Bournemouth holding an Olympic torch.

The mock torch was transported from St Katharine’s Primary School in Southbourne to Elmrise Primary School in Kinson as part of a special project which has seen the torch passed between schools across Dorset.

Staff at St Katharine’s School decided to use members of the school relay team aged between seven and 11 to take the torch to Kinson.

They were divided into groups and each child ran around one mile each. Around 16 parents assisted in transporting youngsters to Elmrise Primary as they finished their particular section of the route.

St Katharine’s headteacher Nikki St John and deputy head Andrew Booth and community police officers also joined in with the fun.

Beforehand Year Six pupils from St Katharine’s School, who are currently studying Ancient Greece, performed their own Olympic opening extravaganza.

The torch was brought to the Southbourne school just before Christmas by Santa and Stourfield School pupils.

Mr Booth said: “It’s been through a number of primary schools and I believe there are about five more to visit.

“It was fabulous and they enjoyed it.”