THE story of a champion fell runner who died in World War One is inspiring youngsters at a Lake District school.

Ernest Dalzell won Grasmere Sports' legendary senior guides race six times. He notched up his final victory in 1913.

Born at Skelwith Bridge, he lived in Keswick and so his name does not appear on Grasmere's war memorial.

However, his close links with Grasmere Sports made him the perfect choice to bring home the reality of the long-ago conflict to today's pupils, said Jonathan Smith, school business manager.

"Because we have such a strong tradition at the school for fell running, it seemed like a beautiful link to tie that in with the story of the armistice and the First World War," said Mr Smith.

"World War One isn't in the living memory of anyone. For many of our children here, their grandparents have no memory of World War Two either, so making this real for our children is quite challenging."

Dalzell was "a fell runner of some renown in his day", said Mr Smith, when the guides race, like today, would attract some of the best runners in the country.

Dalzell equalled his coach John Greenop's record of six wins, although Greenop still holds the record for the most consecutive wins to this day. Coincidentally, he was Mr Smith's great-great-grandfather, and he carved the pulpit panels in St Oswald’s Church.

Dalzell's final win came in 1913, "a very wet day indeed" according to the history books.

"He would have gone on to win many more," said Mr Smith, "but then the war intervened and he went off to France."

He was killed in 1917 and The Westmorland Gazette described him as "a fearless human antelope…who gave his life for his country running an even greater race than lovely Grasmere can provide".

By coincidence, children's author Tom Palmer has used Ernest Dalzell's story as the inspiration for his latest book Armistice Runner. The writer visited Grasmere school to help launch its armistice centenary project.

Children have created poppies that are located around the village, printed with the names of every soldier on the war memorial. They have also written poems and prayers of peace onto poppies that will be suspended in a spiral from a lantern at St Oswald's Church, above the nave. The candle will be lit on Friday, November 9 for the school's service of remembrance, at 9.30am, featuring Burneside Brass Band and the Royal British Legion.

Everyone is welcome and Mr Smith said it was hoped a member of the Dalzell family would be among the congregation.