Hundreds of youngsters across Leicestershire are getting involved in the Special Olympics as part of a schools roadshow.

Special Olympics ambassadors, athletes and even mascot Solly the lion have been touring schools across the city and county to teach children about the Games and learning disabilities.

Pupils at Eyres Monsell Primary School, in Simmins Crescent, have been learning about the event this week ahead of their own sports day today.

During a special assembly presentation by Solly and co, the youngsters were excited to find out that sporting stars such as Gary Lineker, Martin Johnson and Mark Selby are involved in the Games, and that pop acts such as Take That and McFly have autographed official flags for the event.

Many said they hoped to attend the opening ceremony at the Walkers Stadium on July 25.

Shannon Masters, 10, said: "The Special Olympics is a good way for people who have got learning disabilities to show that they can do big things."

Jaime Sweeney, also 10, said: "The Special Olympics shows that people who have got learning disabilities can do exactly what we can do. It looks exciting."

Harrison Wood, 10, said: "I want to go to see it. It proves people with learning disabilities can do as much as people who haven't got them."

During the presentation, children were given information about the different sports involved, the venues hosting events and the celebrity ambassadors and patrons.

Basketball player and athletes' representative Lee Penfold and community patron Manjula Sood, the former Lord Mayor of Leicester, both spoke at the event. Year five teacher Annmarie Reilly says learning about the Special Olympics has made the youngsters more aware of people with learning difficulties.

She said: "We're doing two days of work based around the Special Olympics and it's teaching them that whatever disabilities a person may have, they can still go on to achieve great things."

By the end of term this week, the Special Olympics team will have visited around 35 schools in Leicestershire.

Schools tour manager Laura Graves, who gave the presentation, said: "The response has been fantastic. It's brilliant to see the children's faces light when Solly comes into the room. Hopefully we'll see their faces again at the Walkers stadium."