Residents of a Bushey care home were treated to a glimpse of the Olympic torch following a visit from a torchbearer.

Bushey resident Jane Ashton popped in Bushey House Beaumont Care on Thursday with a replica torch for residents to see and touch, having run in the Olympic torch relay on Tuesday.

Mrs Ashton, 48, was selected to take part in the event after her friend Gillian Sinclair nominated her.

The Coldharbour Lane resident said: “Gillian nominated me because of all the work I do with foster children and because I’m giving away a kidney.

“My husband and I found out that we couldn’t have children, so we looked into adopting but found it wasn’t for us.

“Instead we opted for fostering and it’s been life-changing, for the better.

“We’ve had a lot of children who are experiencing a difficult time in their lives stay with us and it’s been very rewarding.

“We get to be part of their journey, having left their birth family they stay with us for a period and then either return home or move to another family.

“Many people think it’s hard to let the children go, but it’s not, and I don’t mean to sound hard when I say that. Simply we rejoice in the fact that we get to have them for that time.

“All the children that stay with us make a bauble for our Christmas tree, no matter what time of year it is, and leave handprints, which we hang up in our house.

“So although they leave, they’re never really gone, they’re with us all the time.

“As for giving the kidney, well I have two and I only need one, so I’m offering it up for donation. I’ve not been given a specific date yet, but it will be when we’re not caring for any children.”

Yesterday afternoon, delighted residents from the care home in Bushey High Street posed with the torch as Mrs Ashton described her experience of taking part in the relay.

She had decided to visit as her mother Barbara Lancaster, who resides in the home.

She said: “I’m still on cloud nine now, whenever I’ve seen anyone on television, even Billy from EastEnders doing it, I think to myself, that was me. I can’t believe it.

“It was very hot at the time, but I managed to cool off during the relay.

“I ran all the way, a bit too fast actually, as one of the police officers said to be I could’ve gone slower. When he said that I wanted to go back and run again.

“But it was a wonderful feeling, I’m a part of history.

“As for the torch, I won’t be parting with it. It will hang, with pride, on my living room wall.”

Michael Harris, care home resident, said: “It’s great Jane has come to see us with the torch.

“I never thought I would get to see it in my lifetime.”