AS the country gears up for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games young people from West Devon yesterday took part in their own festival of sport.

Nearly 1,500 youngsters from all over the county came together in Torbay for the Devon Winter School Games.

Schoolchildren aged between nine and 16 were involved in eight different activities at Paignton Community and Sports College and Torbay Leisure Centre.

There were 1,230 competitors representing, including children from Tavistock College, Horrabridge Primary School and St Peter's School, Tavistock will be among those competing. Around 250 other young people will be on hand to help run the events as officials and event volunteers.

The event is being hosted by the Torbay Sports Partnership and is designed to be as inclusive as possible. Alongside mainstream competitions, there are categories for children with severe and moderate learning difficulties, emotional and behavioural problems and physical disabilities.

The event is the first in a three-year programme which will comprise up to 18 festivals.

School and community sport partners from throughout Devon have come together on a local organising committee to oversee the programme and has successfully bid for £320,000 of National Lottery funding from Sport England.