THE Paralympics Flame is coming to Huddersfield.

The town is one of just 34 communities across the country which will host Flame Celebrations as part of the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay.

Hundreds of schoolchildren will get involved in a special Youth Games in August to highlight the massive sporting event.

It follows news that the nationwide Olympic Torch Relay will also come through Huddersfield in the summer.

Yesterday, children at Newsome Junior School had their turn in the spotlight as they were chosen to host a photocall for the Flame after taking part in an Olympics story challenge.

Pupils at the school, like hundreds of other schoolchildren across Kirklees, are taking part in the Live and Learn like a Champion programme participating in a range of sporting and cultural activities based around the seven Olympic and Paralympic values: friendship, respect, excellence, equality, courage, determination, and inspiration.

Each pupil is keeping a ‘Legacy Log’ to document their activities and each will receive a certificate in either bronze, silver or gold.

The Newsome pupils have written poems about the values, sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games as part of the Champions programme.

Assistant head Fiona Minor said: “The children have a lot of work planned over the Olympics, especially for the summer term.

“We have close links with Castle Hill School and pupils from there come into school so the Paralympics are very important.”

The Paralympic Torch celebration will be held at the Leeds Road sports complex in Huddersfield on Friday, August 24, with a Kirklees Youth Games multi-sport event for children and young people.

Four Flames will be lit as part of a new concept for the Paralympic Torch Relay – one each in London, Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff.

Each nation will also host events celebrating the Flame lightings.

The four Flames will be united at the Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony at Stoke Mandeville, the spiritual home of the paralympic movement to create the London 2012 Paralympic Flame. This flame will be carried on a 24-hour overnight relay to London and the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games.

Clr Jean Calvert, Kirklees Council Cabinet Member, said: “It is a great honour that Kirklees has been chosen as one of 34 communities which will host Flame Celebrations and be part of the programme of events taking place over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

“We are delighted that we have the chance to play a significant part in the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay.

“Hosting both the Olympic Torch Relay and Paralympic Torch Flame celebration events in Kirklees this year provides fantastic opportunities to bring to life the London Olympics for the children involved in the education programme as well as the wider population of Kirklees.”