TORRIDGE District Council has allocated £6,500 to go to local schools to help them organise celebrations for the Olympic torch relay.

The council has written to schools throughout the district asking for requests for funding, and will look at each reply on its own merits.

One of the schools that could profit from the money is the Clinton Primary School in Merton. The Olympic Flame will pass through the village on Monday, May 21, first passing through Okehampton, Hatherleigh and Folly Gate along the way. After passing through Merton, it will also pass through Sticklepath.

Leader of the council, Barry Parsons, said: 'Torridge strongly believes in the power of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to inspire children and young people across the district, UK and around the world.

'We want this opportunity to spark their imagination and enthusiasm, helping them realise their potential and to learn from this once in a lifetime opportunity.'

The £6,500 for schools will be available to support any celebration or recognition of the games where reasonable, both in the weeks leading up to the event and on the day itself.

Possible uses for the funding could be to pay for transport on the day for children to see the torch as it passes through Merton, Great Torrington or Bideford, to pay for a specialist Olympic sport session to take place at their school, to fund an inter-school competition or to perhaps purchase materials for making flags and banners.