Former paralympian Ian Rose spent the day with pupils at a Romford school telling them about how he overcame his disability.

He visited St Ursula’s Catholic Infant School and spoke about how he won a bronze medal in judo at the Games in Atlanta, a silver in Athens, and also competed in Barcelona, Sydney and Beijing.

He was also a torch bearers for London 2012 and a performer in the opening ceremony.

Children heard how he overcame his disability to succeed in sport following the loss of his sight due to contracting eye cancer as a child.

Tricia Dear, headteacher of the school, in Straight Road, said his inspirational words encouraged all the children, whatever their ability to aim high to achieve their dreams and to overcome adversity.

She added: “It was a very special day which really highlighted to the children that disability does not have to be a barrier to achieving great success.”