THE MOST successful British gymnast in history kicked off an Olympic fun run for school children.

Beth Tweddle, the first female gymnast from Great Britain to win a medal at the European Championships, World Championships, and Olympic Games, visited St Bede's School in Upper Dicker last week.

Prep and senior pupils were joined by children from neighbouring Parkmead Primary School to run three races to mark Olympic Day - an annual mass participation sporting event.

A crowd of 800 children gathered as she passed on sporting tips and officially started the race. She spent an hour signing t-shirts and posing for photographs to ensure no child went without one.

Andrew Hibbert, the school's director of sport, said: "This was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate everything good about sport."

Ms Tweddle, 30, said: "It was wonderful to see so much enthusiasm from staff and pupils. The Olympics means a lot to me so it's great to see Bede's supporting it in this way."