CHILDREN at one of Wiltshire’s smallest schools were put through their paces by Paralympic medal winner and world record breaking sprinter Ben Rushgrove on Tuesday.

Youngsters aged from four to 11 were thrilled when Rushgrove took time out from his training for the 2016 Games in Rio to visit Somerford's Walter Powell primary school.

The winner of a silver medal in the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing and a bronze in London three years ago oversaw an enthusiastic circuit training session by around 50 pupils which included press-ups, star jumps, leg drives and “spotty dogs” – movements involving arms and legs at the same time.

He gave the youngsters a talk on nutrition and the importance of team-work and told then how he prepared, both physically and mentally, for major competitions.

The youngsters’ loudly cheered him home when he showed them a recording of his medal winning performance at the London Paralympics.

There was more delight when they were all given the chance to hold, with much reverence and care, his Silver and Bronze medals.

Rushgrove, 27, from Bath, was born with cerebral palsy and has a hearing impairment.

He competes at 100 and 200 metres in the T36 classification for athletes with cerebral palsy.

In the 2007 Visa Paralympic World Cup he became the first T36 runner to achieve 200m in under 25 seconds.

His visit to the Somerford school was organised by assistant head Lisa Shibley (correct) as part of a fund raising initiative in aid of buying sports facilities for the school.

School administrator Sarah Law said: “It was a brilliant afternoon.”