More than one thousand children will celebrate the imminent opening of the Commonwealth Games.

Children from six schools across the east of Brighton will be taking part in the large-scale sport event this Friday.

A group of twenty young runners, aged ten and eleven, will carry decorative torches through six schools to lead all pupils in running a lap of the school field.

The event is to mark the Commonwealth Games which will open next month in Glasgow and was inspired by the successful torch run to launch the Olympics two years ago.

The young torchbearers, who will run five miles in total, will visit Saltdean Primary, St Margaret’s, Our Lady of Lourdes, Rudyard Kipling, Downs View and finally Woodingdean Primary where they will be presented with medals sponsored by local businesses Autovets and Build14Me.

The decorative torches have been supplied by community art group and Children’s Parade organisers Same Sky.

Each of the participating schools has been allocated a colour from the Commonwealth Games logo to create a “a swirling circle of colour”.

Jude Smith, a teacher at Downs View School, said: “In keeping with the Commonwealth spirit, the Torch Run is yet again a fantastic opportunity for our children to work with their main stream peers.”

The run is being organised by Woodingdean Primary School parents, teachers and friends association and The Deans Sports Partnership.

Woodingdean Primary School PTFA chairwoman Alix Macfarlane said: “Even the youngest reception children, the four year olds, will be taking part by running with the Torchbearers at each school.

“Where we are on the edge of Brighton is great for running and much of the route is through beautiful fields.”