Torridge District Council has allocated £6,500 to go to local schools to help them organise celebrations for the Olympic Torch relay.

The council has written to schools throughout the district asking for requests for funding and will be looking at each and every application on its own merits.

On May 21st the Olympic Torch Relay will travel through Merton, Great Torrington and Bideford.

Barry Parsons, Leader of the council, said: "Torridge strongly believes in the power of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to inspire children and young people across the District, the UK and around the world. We want this opportunity to spark their imagination and enthusiasm, helping them to realise their potential and to learn from this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

The £6,500 will be available for schools to support any celebration or recognition of the games where reasonable, both in the weeks leading up to the event and on the day itself.

Torridge District Council said the funding could be used to pay for transport for children to see the torch as it passes through the area; to pay for a specialist Olympic sport session to take place at their school; to pay for an inter-school competition or to perhaps purchase materials for making flags and banners.