London 2012: Olympic torch to pass Dorset's Durdle Door

The Olympic torch will pass the Jurassic Coast's Durdle Door

The Olympic torch will pass the Jurassic Coast's Durdle Door during its tour of Dorset ahead of the 2012 Games.

Its full 70-day tour around the UK will take in more than 1,000 different locations, including 47 in Dorset covering 38 towns and villages.

On 11 July next year the torch will travel from Salisbury, Wiltshire to Weymouth and Portland, which will host the Olympic sailing events.

It will arrive in Bournemouth on 13 July 2012.

Bournemouth and Weymouth and Portland councils will host evening "celebration" events at the end of each day for the public.

It has been confirmed that Bournemouth's event will be held on the resort's East Beach at East Cliff.

Weymouth's celebration will also be staged on the beach.

The two-and-a-half hour events will culminate in the arrival of the Olympic Flame carried by the final torchbearer of the day.

The torch will head to the New Forest, Hampshire when it leaves Bournemouth on 14 July next year.

Hovis advert

The Olympic flame will enter the north of the county first at Ludwell.

It will then travel to Shaftesbury, the home of Gold Hill - the street used in the Hovis bread advert in the early-1970s, and on to Blandford Forum.

A spokesperson for North Dorset District Council said: "We are delighted that the Olympic torch will pass through North Dorset as part of the official 2012 Games preparations.

"It will provide everyone who lives or works along the route an opportunity to feel that they are part of the build-up to this fantastic, once in a lifetime event."

The torch will also travel via Dorchester, Bridport and Lyme Regis before reaching Weymouth and Portland.

On its way to Bournemouth it will tour through Corfe Castle, passing its 11th Century fort, Swanage and Poole.

It will exit the county via Christchurch after visiting Boscombe.

The Olympic flame is set to arrive in the UK from Greece on 18 May 2012.

It will leave Land's End, Cornwall, the following morning before travelling 8,000 miles (12,874 km) around the UK.

Full details of the route will be revealed in 2012.