AROUND 250 pupils from seven Portsmouth schools will explore Olympic values and heroes in church.

As part of the preparation of the visit of the Olympic torch to the city, the Year 5 children will visit St Mary’s Church in Fratton Road, Fratton, for a day of workshops and celebrations.

The pupils from Arundel Court Junior, Charles Dickens Junior, Cottage Grove Primary, Flying Bull Primary, Newbridge Junior, Somers Park Primary and St George’s C of E Primary Schools will gather from 9.30am until 2pm on Thursday (July 5).

They’ll watch a performance by the Openbox Theatre Company entitled ‘A Bagful of Stories’, and then explore the Olympic theme through drama, puppetry, dance, percussion, sport, first aid, medal and banner-making.

The vicar of St Mary’s, Canon Bob White, said: “We will be exploring in different ways the values of the Olympics, and also the Olympic heroes who have demonstrated those values - of courage, determination, respect, equality, friendship, excellence and inspiration.

“We hope to end the day with our own Olympic parade, and, above all, to have lots of fun.”

The day has been organised by churches in the inner-city Portsmouth cluster – St Mary’s, Fratton; St Wilfrid’s, Fratton; St Faith’s, Landport: All Saints, Commercial Road; St Peter’s, Somerstown: St Luke’s, Somerstown; and St George’s, Portsea. It has organised a similar day for primary-age children in their area for the past few years.

The Olympic theme was chosen because the Olympic flame is due to be carried past St Mary’s Church as it leaves the city on July 16.