She flew in by helicoptor near the end of the event to meet a few of the youngsters and have a go at some of the activities.

She was one of four celebrities on hand to cheer on the youngsters taking part at the South Kesteven Sports Stadium - also there was Gladiator star Roderick Bradley, aka Spartan, swimming legend Duncan Goodhew and paraplegic athlete Clive Wright.

Dame Kelly said: "The response was great, fantastic.

"It's just brilliant to see the events that have been happening on my journey. I'm in my second day of National Sports Week - I've been dropping down in different cities and towns to see the work they've been doing.

"Today in Grantham, I've seen a big amount of community work."

Primary schools in the Grantham and Stamford area joined in the event, which was organised as part of National Sports Week by South West Lincolnshire School Sports Partnership and South Kesteven District Council.

The youngsters tried their hand at cheerleading, football, speed ladders and relay races, among other activities, in the glorious hot weather.

Grantham-born Roderick spent a lot of time chatting with the children and signing autographs.

He said: "I didn't realise what it meant to me to be here in my home town until I stepped through the stands and saw a few kids from my old school, Harlaxton CE School, and saw the little t-shirts with the acorns on.

"It was amazing just watching them getting really stuck in and I could see they were all like me and my mates were at that age."

National Sports Week is supported by Norwich Union.

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