A total of 1,400 school children from across Wiltshire will be taking part in their own version of the Olympics this summer, it has been announced yesterday. A gigantic ‘Wiltshire School Games’ will take place over two days in Chippenham in July, with 116 schools participating, including youngsters with special needs in a version of the Paralympic Games.

World 200m champion Katrina Hart was on hand to launch the event in Devizes.

Ten sports will make up the games, including tennis, golf and rugby as well as Olympic favourites like athletics, gymnastics and swimming.

The top performing pupils will be selected to take part in a national competition at the Olympic Park in London, organisers said.

“These young people will be demonstrating their skills while the most famous sporting competition in the world is just around the corner,” said council chief Keith Humphries.

“The competition is not just for high performers but for all those who take an interest in sport and we hope that for them this will be an experience they never forget,” he added.