Every school in Northampton will be taking part in an Olympic torch relay which will be started by former 400m runner, Derek Redmond at The Racecourse on Wednesday, June 27.

The battery-operated torch will be carried by pupils from school to school from June 27 to July 11 and plaques commemorating each school’s involvement in the event will be commissioned for display at each site.

Sue Russell, torch relay co-ordinator, said: “It will bring all the schools in the town together and will provide a lasting legacy of the Olympics for the children.”

As part of the event, each school will produce two pieces of artwork and one will be taken as a gift to their relay school and handed over with the torch.

Each school will also adopt an Olympic team to support for the relay, as well as Team GB, and will produce appropriate flags.

Sculptures designed by primary pupils will be commissioned to be displayed in secondary schools.

Collections will be made for the Always A Chance charity, set up for youngsters in memory of murder victims James Kouzaris and James Cooper.

All 68 schools in Northampton, including special schools, will take part in the relay event.

The relay will end on Wednesday, July 11 at Abington Vale Primary School.