A 13-year-old boy who has battled leukaemia was among the Bradford Olympic torchbearers who took part in the historic relay today.

Sohail Husenbhai, a pupil at Dixons Academy, West Bowling, was nominated by his big sister Sama. He carried the flame through Morley.

Sohail was diagnosed with leukaemia at four and a half years old and underwent chemotherapy to battle the cancer, and has now been in remission for three years. The treatment left the youngster with one leg slightly shorter than the other.

In addition Brenda Thomson, 74, who has dedicated her life to promoting racial equality, carried the Olympic Torch through Batley.

She was nominated by the Little Lane Tai Chi Group for the over 50s that she manages. Friends, family, and members of the group arranged to travel over to Batley in a vintage Routemaster bus hired from the Keighley Bus Museum. Mrs Thomson was one of the first students to attend the School of Peace Studies at Bradford University and her doctorate examined institutional racism in Bradford schools. She set up Bradford City for Peace and developed the Bradford Peace Trail.

Others from Bradford involved in the torch relay yesterday include Shelly Lay-Flurrie, 34, a super slimmer who has transformed her life by losing nearly half her body weight, who carried the torch through Dewsbury. As did Aqsa Waheed, 19, who has completed more than 100 hours of volunteering in a sports leadership capacity.

Tony King, 54, who works at Morrisons and has taken part in many charity runs and cycle rides, carried the Olympic Flame through Leeds. And James Haley, 37, carried the torch through Beeston. He was nominated after being struck down with a virus which destroyed a valve in his heart. He now raises money for the charity Take Heart and is in training for the Great North Run.