A CUSTOM Olympic torch travelled to 37 schools across West Dunbartonshire last week to celebrate the upcoming Rio 2016 Games this summer.

Nearly 400 pupils ran with the specially-designed model torch to get into the Olympic spirit.

St Eunan's Primary was one of 17 schools the torch visited on Wednesday, 15 June, as part of a 30-mile journey.

St Eunan's Primary six pupil and keen runner Lucy Hutchinson, 10, said: “Most of us were pretty tired but we had a good time.

“It felt quite long. I kind of like sprints more than distances because they make me very tired.

“Linnvale [Primary] came to our school with it. Primary one and six came to watch us go off with the torch.

“We went to Kilbowie [Primary] and the school was waiting for us outside with lots of stuff for Rio,” said Lucy, a member of the school's athletics club.

Pupils lined roads all along the route bearing commemorative flags designed by St Peter the Apostle High pupil Joanna Naing and Dumbarton Academy's Sydney Ross, who won a competition to create the flag design.

Councillor David McBride, vice-chair of the West Dunbartonshire Leisure Board, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to maximise the excitement and anticipation surrounding the Rio Olympics to get our pupils involved in school sport.

“With the end of the school year fast approaching the West Dunbartonshire School Games is coming to the end of a successful first year, and this is an excellent chance to celebrate the brilliant sporting opportunities and achievements we have seen in our schools in 2015/16.”

On Thursday, the torch went through eight Dumbarton schools and the council offices on Garshake Road. A further 12 schools in the Vale of Leven were visited on Friday before the relay ended at Alexandria Community Centre.

Councillor Michelle McGinty, education convener, said: “The torch bearers from each school have been nominated for various achievements, and it is lovely to see them recognised in this way. I hope as many people as possible will turn out to line the route and cheer them on.”

Tony Waclawski, chairman of West Dunbartonshire Leisure, said: “This is an exciting thing for the pupils to be involved in and West Dunbartonshire Leisure are proud to bring such a wonderful opportunity to every school across the region, enabling 400 pupils to be involved in an exhilarating and celebratory event.

“West Dunbartonshire Leisure will be continuing to promote the Olympic Games across the fantastic holiday programmes we offer, using the power of the Games to inspire young people to be more active and involved in sport.”

As well as the torch relay, pupils at St Mary Joseph's and St Joseph's Primary recently ran the 5898-mile distance from Clydebank to Rio as part of a project on the upcoming Olympics.