A former national swimming champion travelled 200 miles for a 300m run she will remember for the rest of her life.

Vicky Panagiotidou is still on cloud nine after taking part in the Olympic torch relay in Somerset.

Since taking part, she has been carrying out a Croydon schools relay with her torch.

The former Greek national 200m breaststroke champion, who splits her time between teaching swimming at her Croydon club AMES and working as a child psychologist, carried the torch in Minehead on Monday, May 21.

She said: “It was such an exhilarating experience. The crowds were fantastic and I was so proud to be part of it. It was nerve-racking.”

The 34-year-old was allowed to keep the torch and has been inundated with requests from schools she works with to bring in her prize.

She said: “I am booked up for the next four weeks – I am doing my own Croydon school relay.

“I first suggested it to one of my swimming pupils and suddenly I had head teachers from every school inviting me in.”

There have been criticisms of relay runners who have put their torches up for sale but Miss Panagiotidou, who gave up her swimming career to study in the UK in 1995, has no intention of letting hers go.

She said: “It is not for sale. It is private and something I will treasure always. “After I have shown it to others I will be putting it in a secure deposit box.”

The torch relay will come through Croydon on July 23, beginning in Norwood, running through Thornton Heath and the town centre before entering of Sutton.