THE PARALYMPIC flame will be coming to Huddersfield in an event to celebrate youth games in the town.

Leeds Road Sports Complex will welcome the Paralympic torch as a climax to the Kirklees Youth Games Flame Celebration, on August 24.

Sports and activities will take place from noon before the Paralympic lantern arrives at around 3.30pm.

The flame’s appearance follows the success of the Olympic Torch relay which came to town on June 24.

It attracted a crowd estimated at 40,000 as runners carried it from Marsh, through the town centre and out to Fartown.

The free Paralympics event includes regular and disabled sports for children and their parents to try.

Sports include archery, fencing, curling, bowling, golf, football and boules (boccia) as well as wheelchair rugby, Nordic walking and wheelchair basketball.

There will also be more unusual activities such as zorbing (rolling in a plastic ball) as well as giant Jenga and Connect Four.

Kirklees Olympics and Paralympic Champion Clr Masood Ahmed said: “We are delighted that Huddersfield has been chosen as one of 33 communities that will host events to celebrate the Paralympic flame.

“It is a great honour and we want families to come and enjoy our celebration and are particularly keen to encourage children with a disability or sensory impairment to join in the fun.

“We are holding the event at Leeds Road Sports Complex which means that, whatever the weather, the event can still go ahead as we have great indoor and outdoor facilities there.”

The Kirklees Youth Games Flame Celebration marks the end of the Kirklees Youth Games festivals this summer.

Other youth games take place at Neilly Fields, Honley, on July 27, Mirfield Showground, on August 10 and Greenhead Park, on August 17.

All free events, from 1pm-4pm, are open to young people aged eight to 16.

For more about these festivals visit: www.kirklees.gov.uk/buzz or call: 01484 234098.

The Paralympic celebrations begin in London on August 24 with the lighting of the Paralympic flame.

The flame will travel from London to York where lanterns will be lit and carried to different parts of Yorkshire, including Huddersfield.