EXCITED children were over the moon to get a glimpse of one of football’s most famous prizes.

And Cherries players are hoping the youngsters won’t be the only Bournemouth residents to get their hands on the coveted Capital One Cup.

The team is limbering up for tonight’s crucial quarter-final game against Liverpool at the Goldsands Stadium.

Ahead of the tie, the cup was in town as part of its nationwide community tour.

Elderly residents at Bournemouth’s Talbot View Care Home were first to see it before it moved on to Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School in Boscombe.

Year 2 pupils got to pass the silverware around before taking part in healthy lifestyle lessons with community representatives from AFC Bournemouth.

Head of community, Steve Cuss, said: “We spend a lot of time in schools teaching children about the benefits of a healthy diet and the importance of regular exercise. The children were told this morning that the cup would be brought into the school at the same time and they were very excited.”

School business manager Sue Solly said: “AFC Bournemouth are very good to us and attend regularly to teach the children.

“We had to keep it quiet about the Capital One Cup until this morning but they were thrilled when they found out.

“I think the teachers were just as excited as the children – they’ve been having their pictures taken with the cup as well.”

Seven-year-old Natalie, who held the cup, said: “I watch football on the television sometimes so I’m going to look and see if I can spot the cup.”

And David, also seven, said: “I’m a football fan and I think a lot of people I know will wish they’d seen the cup too.

“I hope Bournemouth win”