by Graham Tutthill

A contemporary replica of the Olympic torch has been taken in relay around all 53 schools in Dover district.

The torch was brought ashore at the Prince of Wales Pier in Dover and handed to Josh and Joe Barrett, whose grandfather, John, was one of the original torch bearers when the flame arrived at Dover for the London Olympics in 1948. The brothers ran down the pier with the torch and handed it to the first representatives from the local schools who then took part in a relay along the pier and back.

The torch had been designed by school children from the Dover, Deal and Sandwich area who took part in a special project last year. They had also composed a special song for the event, Pass The Passion, which was performed on the pier by children from Priory Fields School in Dover.

The torch was carried in relay around all the schools in the district, culminating in a reception at Sandwich Guildhall.

The schools had arranged special activities for the time the torch was with them.

It's all part of the campaign to try and persuade the Olympic Games organisers to choose Dover as the place where the real torch arrives in England in 2012.