The sun shone brightly as hundreds of youngsters got the chance to take part in their own Paralympic Games.

Some 275 children from special schools across Norfolk and those with disabilities at mainstream schools in the county took part in Active Norfolk's Youth Games today (Wednesday).

Now in its ninth year, this year's event had a Paralympics theme and saw pupils take part in 12 different sports including boccia, seated volleyball, wheelchair basketball and gymnastics.

The youngsters also got the chance to meet future Paralympian Will Smith, Dereham's wheelchair racer who recently picked up bronze at the BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.

Ellen Vanlint, from Active Norfolk, said: 'It's been fantastic and one of the best ones yet. We've had lots of smiles, lots of sunshine and everyone has had a great day.

'It was one of our biggest and it was great how everything went to plan. It was also really nice for the children to meet Will who we are sure will be at the Paralympics one day.'

The event was held at the Sportspark at the University of East Anglia and saw children from schools including the Clare School and Hall School in Norwich, Dereham's Fred Nicholson School and Caister's John Grant School take part. Pupils from Attleborough and Old Buckenham high schools also participated.

As part of the Paralympic theme, there was both an opening ceremony and a closing ceremony and every youngster received a medal and a Team Norfolk 2012 T-shirt.

The annual event continued its aim to be a fun, safe and fair sporting festival for children and young people from across the county's special schools and students from mainstream schools with physical or sensory disabilities.

Do you have an Olympics story? Call reporter Kate Scotter on 01603 772326 or email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk.