THE Olympic flame may have been extinguished at the end of last year’s London 2012 Games, but community spirit in the county has continued to burn.

A celebration to mark one year since the torch relay was held yesterday at Oxford City Council’s Horspath Athletics track as part of the Community Games Relay – a 70-day relay held in England that is mirroring the Olympic torch route.

Cherwell School student Tom Maxwell has been selected as Oxfordshire’s Shining Light as part of the celebrations after he organised his own Community Games event, Oxford Bike Fest.

There will be an event every day during the 70-day relay, culminating in a ceremony at the Olympic Park in London.

Tom, 17, from Jericho, said: “The Olympics have had such a big impact on people. Role models are not football stars or models any more – they are Bradley Wiggins or Victoria Pendleton.”

One of Oxford’s Olympic torchbearers Margaret Stevens, from Cowley, joined yesterday’s celebrations with her torch.

The 50-year-old, who now works in the city council’s sports development team, said: “It is vital to keep the legacy alive.”