Two Trowbridge women who will have to leave the county to carry the Olympic torch are planning their own mini-relay in town.

Trowbridge teacher Rachel Bown and 91-year-old Doris Whiting both have to travel to Somerset on the morning of May 22 to carry the torch for a 300m stretch.

Both had hoped to take part as the torch came though Trowbridge, as they have strong ties to the town, so have now decided to hold their own relay in the afternoon. Ms Bown, a PE teacher at Larkrise School and a Great Britain triathlete, thought of the idea after realising the schoolchildren wouldn’t get to see her run.

She said: “I’m in the same situation as Doris, I live and work in Trowbridge. I was nominated in order to make a day of it for the children, to bring it alive for them. When I found out I was selected I was really excited, but because it’s in the morning in Crosscombe, near Shepton Mallet, logistically we just can’t get the children there.

“My friends and family will still come and that will be nice, but what we’re planning to do is have a relay in the afternoon so the children can see me doing it.”

After taking part in the official route in Croscombe and Shepton Mallet, the plan is to head back to Trowbridge in the afternoon and complete a leg near to the school, so the children, friends and family can see the pair run in their home towns. A tea party will then be held at the school Mrs Whiting, who in 2008 received an MBE for her services to the Trowbridge community, said: “I’m all for it.

“Our people from the church can come now, they’re so elderly a lot of them were all right for lifts down to Shepton Mallet, but they can’t stand.

“Now they can line whatever part of Trowbridge.”

Ms Bown said that arrangements were coming along to hold the relay near the Ashton Street school.

She said: “I’ve approached the Consortium which is happy to donate some flags and stuff, and send eight people to help with the staffing.

“I’m now going to approach the community police to see if they’re able to do an escort for it. It’s a good spot, there’s not too much traffic.”