Hundreds of schoolchildren gathered last week at an Olympic and Paralympic parade to meet official mascot Mandeville.

The event, held at Sutton Arena, saw officials from the borough, including mayor Margaret Court, receive an Olympic baton from their Merton counterparts.

The baton has been passed around London’s schoolchildren to encourage them to walk to school and stay fit and healthy prior to the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012.

Joining the children were joined by John Greatrex from South London Harriers with an original 1948 Olympic torch, Merton Mayor Oonagh Moulton and Jason Bates from Sherwood Park.

Councillor Graham Tope, Sutton Council’s community spokesman, who also attended the event, said: “This is a great project to encourage children of all abilities to take part in sports and to keep fit and healthy by walking to school.

“With the Olympics and Paralympics 2012 drawing closer I hope that more and more people will be inspired to visit our leisure centres or get out and about in the borough on their feet or by bike.”