Olympic Torch Heads To Essex

The route for next year's Olympic torch relay has been announced, and it's coming to Essex.

It will arrive in Chelmsford on Friday July 6th when there will be an evening celebration before a tour of the town on Saturday 7th July.

The evening celebration will feature a live show by the Olympic Torch Relay Route sponsors incorporating a twenty minute community-led performance.

More information on the content of this will be released as plans develop.

Ray Ride, Chelmsford Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture worked on the application: ''I am very, very proud that our hard work has come to fruition and we will be welcoming the Olympic Torch convoy through Chelmsford just three weeks before the Games are due to start. I’m sure we will see a huge public turnout as the community in Chelmsford comes together to celebrate the start of the Games and witness the passage of the torch first hand. It will ignite a spark to light up the occasion!''

Chelmsford is one of 66 Evening Celebration locations across the UK confirmed by the London 2012 Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

County Councillor Stephen Castle, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for the 2012 Games said: ''I am delighted we have been given the opportunity to welcome the Olympic Flame to Essex and be part of the Torch Relay. Our county is in a fantastic position to enjoy the London 2012 Games and what better way to start the festivities than to host an evening celebration in the heart of Essex. I urge people to get involved and make the most of the once in a lifetime opportunity to see the Olympic Torch so close to home.''

The Olympic Flame will arrive in the UK from Greece on Friday 18 May and the 70 day Torch Relay will start at Land’s End on the morning of the 19 May 2012.

On leaving Land’s End, the Olympic Flame is expected to travel an estimated 8000 miles across the UK ending up at London's Olympic Stadium on July 27th.