Olympic torch visits Victor Hugo's Guernsey home
Deputy Lyndon Trott held the Olympic torch on its visit to Guernsey
The Olympic torch has visited Guernsey in the latest leg of its journey building up to the Paris Games.
The torch visited Hauteville House in St Peter Port, the former home of Les Misérables author Victor Hugo.
Schoolchildren joined torchbearers including Dame Mary Perkins, a member of the Hugo family, a French poet and members of the Olympic Committee.
The torch was lit in Greece on 16 April and has been travelling around France and French colonies since 7 May.
The torch visited Hauteville House, the former home of Les Misérables author Victor Hugo
The Olympic torch typically leaves Greece, the host of the first modern Olympics and the ancient Olympics, before touring the host nation in the run-up to the Games.
Romain Caubin, manager of the Olympic torch relay route, said Guernsey was included on the route because Hugo has cultural significance and Hauteville House is owned by the City of Paris.
Mr Caubin said the house was "a symbol of Victor Hugo" and an important part of "French literary history and therefore of European ideas as a whole".
He said it was an "honour to be here in Guernsey".
"We’ve had a great time, especially that schools have been involved – a luxury and an honour," he said.
'Fantastic opportunity'
Hugo lived in Guernsey for 15 years when he was exiled from Paris, writing much of Les Misérables, his most famous work, in the island.
Nicky Will, from Guernsey Sports Commission, said the torch's visit was a "fantastic opportunity" to "inspire" local children.
She said it was important for young people to have local athletes competing at the highest level to look up to, including Ala Chalmers and Heather Watson.
"With this year's Olympics being so close, just over the water in Paris, I really hope they get to watch some of the action," she said.
"And who knows, one day be competing themselves."
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