A YOUNG sports fan, who hopes to play professionally when he is older, is to carry the Olympic torch through his home village.

Fabian Peterkin, 15, who now lives in Chickerell, will take the torch through Abbotsbury, where he lived for the first eight years of his life, on July 12.

Fabian, who is in Year 10 at Budmouth College, is a keen boxer and footballer.

He said: “I can’t really picture what it’s going to be like but it’s very exciting.

“I really enjoy sports. It changes your life, and gives you something to do, something to focus on.”

Fabian was nominated by his sister Clarice, 20.

In addition to sports practice four or five times a week, he is also a member of the Chickerell Youth Forum committee.

He said: “At the moment we are concentrating on trying to get a skatepark built in the village.

“It would be really good for the kids here as it would give us something to do and it’s the kind of thing anyone can have access to.”

A member of the Chickerell under-15s football team and Weymouth Amateur Boxing Club, he added: “It would be really nice to be a professional sportsman when I’m older, but I don’t know yet if I would rather do football or boxing.”

Mum Elaine Griffiths said she has “always” been proud of her son.

“He grew up in Abbotsbury so it’s especially nice that he’s going to get to run there.

“Fabian is really into his sports and his work on the committee.

“I was thrilled when I found out he had been selected to be a torchbearer, but I’ve always been proud of him.”