OLYMPIC medallist Colin Jackson visited a Hornsey school in Tuesday to celebrate a London 2012 initiative that links British schools with others from across the world.

Jackson has just returned from seeing it at work in Trinidad and Tobago, which is twinned with five schools in Haringey including Hornsey School for Girls, and praised it for helping young people to "flourish".

He said: "I lost count of the number of young people I met who are benefiting from the programme and embracing sport.

"In Trinidad and Tobago the programme is a fantastic way of engaging youngsters and keeping them safe by communicating important messages around HIV and drugs.

"It was clear from all the children I met how the programme has benefited them, helping them to flourish within a school environment."

The British sporting legend spent time at the school learning how the young ladies had also benefited from the scheme.

Pupil Abigail, one of the appointed young leaders said: "Having an athlete like Colin Jackson visiting our school is really exciting, especially as he can tell us about his experience in Trinidad and Tobago with our link school.

"Through our links with Speyside School, in Tobago, we have learnt about leadership skills, conflict resolution and how to work as a team. I was also a Hornsey School representative at the UK School Games and worked with a fellow from Tobago, Hakeem Charles in terms of developing our leadership skills as students."