YOUNGSTERS at a school in Petersfield realised a burning ambition this week – when they got their hands on a rare replica of the Olympic torch.

The would-be Olympians from Petersfield Infant School took temporary charge of one of only 10 gold-plated replicas of the torch.

Thanks to a well-connected patent, the excited children had the opportunity to take a closer look and hold on to the replica torch before it headed back to London.

And it gave a boost to the torch-bearing youngsters who are beginning the second of their own 'Future Olympians Fortnight' with a variety of sporting and team-building activities both at the St Peter's Road infant school and pupils of the The Petersfield School.

For full story, see this week's Petersfield Herald.