A former St Albans pupil has returned to her old school to show off the Olympic Torch she carried during the relay.

Dressed in full torchbearer uniform, Katherine Deal met with year seven children at Beaumont School on Thursday.

The University College of London student carried the iconic flame during its journey through Hemel Hempstead on Sunday.

She said: “The day was quite overwhelming with the number of people and cameras going off all around, but it was great fun – a day I’ll always remember.”

Ms Deal is also an athlete and was selected to complete in the Beijing Paralympics. However, an accident five months before the games meant she was unable to take part.

Since then she has been diagnosed with an illness which means she can no longer compete.