London 2012: Cambridgeshire Olympic torch route revealed

Tony de Matteis from Peterborough will carry the torch in Norfolk

The Olympic torch relay route through Cambridgeshire has been announced by London 2012 organisers Locog.

Among the places it will visit are Peterborough Guildhall, the Nene Valley Railway and Trinity College, Cambridge.

It will leave Cambridge on a punt towards Huntingdon Gymnastics Club, where some of Great Britain's Olympic hopefuls train.

The torch will travel through Cambridgeshire on 3 and 4 July before returning on 7 and 8 July.

On 3 July the torch will leave Burghley House at 17:15 BST before arriving at the Nene Valley Railway's Wansford station.

It will then be transported on board The City of Peterborough steam locomotive to Orton Mere station.

In the evening it will arrive at the city's Embankment at approximately 19:20, after which an evening event will take place.

The torch will leave Peterborough on the morning of 4 July at approximately 07:00 from the Cathedral Precincts.

Marco Cereste, leader of Peterborough City Council, said: "Today's announcement really brings the route to life and we know it will encourage people to come out and line the streets.

"Peterborough will be the gateway to the East for the Olympic flame and that's something the city should be proud of."

The torch will return to the county on 7 July, making its way along Newmarket Road in Cambridge shortly after 18:00, for an evening celebration on Parker's Piece.

'Unsung hero'

At 06:50 on 8 July, the torch and bearer will take a trip on a punt on the River Cam.

It is expected to arrive in St Ives at 07:53 and Huntingdon at 08:18.

Councillor Rod Cantrill, from Cambridge City Council, said: "The celebration of the Olympic torch in Cambridge is a truly historic moment - a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us all to embrace the Olympic spirit and get involved in celebrating everything for which it stands."

The torch will be carried by 8,000 people on its 8,000-mile route to the London 2012 Games.

Each torchbearer will wear a white and gold uniform which has been designed for the occasion by Adidas.

Volunteer firefighter Tony de Matteis, from Peterborough, was one of those invited to be a torchbearer.

The 50-year-old was nominated by his daughter Sonia Nicholls, 26.

She described him as the city's unsung hero who, for 26 years, had "given up his spare time and put his life in danger for Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade".

"Unlike retained firefighters they don't get a penny," she said. "Not even for expenses."

Mr de Matteis, a prison governor at HMP Littlehey, in Cambridgeshire, has been chosen to carry the torch as it travels through Fakenham, in Norfolk.

He said: "I'm so honoured to have been chosen, and very excited.

"It was a complete surprise as I had no idea that my daughter had nominated me."

Although he admitted he would have liked to carry the torch through Peterborough, he said he was delighted to be heading to Norfolk.

"I'm going to be carrying it there, rather than my home town, but it absolutely doesn't matter where I'm going.

"This really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It's taking part that's important."