Patients and staff at York’s St Leonard’s Hospice got a close-up view of one of the famous Olympic torches.

Torchbearer James Atherton, who carried the torch through Westminster on July 26, visited the hospice on Wednesday.

He was chosen for the torchbearing role after being recommended by the company he works for. They were impressed by his commitment to raising funds for St Leonard’s Hospice, where his father, Ernie, was cared for.

Two years ago James and a group of nine friends undertook to raise £10,000 for the work of the hospice by running ten 10-kilometre races around the country, finishing with the York 10K.

They called their fundraising project 10:10:10. As a result, James was nominated as a torchbearer for the torch relay.

James said: “Raising money for the Hospice had unforeseen consequences and I’m obviously very proud and I’m sure my dad would be delighted. My participation in the relay is due to the inspiration the hospice gave me and I’m very pleased to return the favour by bringing the torch along.’

Sue Miller, fundraising manager at St Leonard’s, said: “It’s great that the work James and his friends did in raising so much for the hospice was recognised both by his firm and by the organisers of the torch relay.

“We’re delighted James came to St Leonard’s with his torch – it was a golden moment for everyone here.”’