AN Olympic athlete spent the day at an Accrington school after it was named secondary school of the year for community sports.

Mount Carmel RC High School was given the award as part of Hyndburn Leisure’s Sports Awards 2016.

MORE TOP STORIES:

To celebrate 1,500m athlete Laura Weightman delivered a series of assemblies to pupils from all year groups.

Laura is a British middle distance runner and reached the finals of both the Rio and London Olympics.

She also won the silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the bronze medal at the 2014 European Championships in London.

Her next aim is to compete at the 2017 World Championships in London.

A spokeswoman for Mount Carmel said: “Laura worked with groups of pupils throughout the day instructing them on training techniques, stretching and warming up exercises.

“Mount Carmel pupil sports leaders were then invited to have refreshments with Laura and they took the opportunity to ask her lots of probing questions.”

Mount Carmel recently won the award as secondary school of the year for community sports during a ceremony held at Accrington Town Hall.

The awards recognise the achievements of local clubs, teams, schools, coaches, individual athletes and volunteers from around the borough.

The spokeswoman said: “The school is involved in many district sports events including cricket, football, basketball, netball, cross country, badminton and handball.

“There is a wide range of extra-curricular activities, many of which are supported by pupil sports leaders.”

She said they include a successful healthy hearts project, hosting inter-primary school sports competitions and regularly partner with Accrington Stanley.

Gaynor Gallagher, curriculum leader for PE and assistant headteacher Kathy McNicholas attended the sports awards.

Ms Gallagher said: “We were delighted to receive the Hyndburn Leisure award for secondary school of the year.

“The award was won based on the many aspects of sport and fitness provided by the school and their involvement in community activities.”

Peter Street, chairman of the Cardboard Box Company, who sponsored the award, presented the award to pupils.

Steve Tanti, chief executive of Hyndburn Leisure, said: “The sports awards is a fantastic event.”