London 2012: Norfolk Olympic torch relay route revealed

Details of every street and location to be visited by the Olympic torch relay in Norfolk, prior to London 2012, have been revealed by the Games organisers.

The relay will visit Cromer Pier, Norwich Castle and Great Yarmouth's historic Hall Quay.

Arriving in King's Lynn at 12:03 BST on 4 July, the torch will visit 12 locations in Norfolk over two days.

An evening event to mark the flame's arrival in Norwich will take place at Chapelfield Gardens from 17:00.

The next day it will continue to Great Yarmouth before crossing the Suffolk border at Lowestoft.

After visiting King's Lynn's Tuesday Market Place and Lynnsport's athletics track, the relay will head to the Rudhams and Fakenham.

Tony de Matteis from Peterborough will carry the torch in Norfolk

Volunteer firefighter Tony de Matteis, 50, from Peterborough, will carry the torch for part of the Fakenham leg.

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."

Jeremy Punchard, Fakenham's town mayor, said: "It's an historic moment for the area - one to tell the grandchildren about.

"We're expecting people to come from all around Fakenham to see the torch as it's carried through the town - it'll be hugely exciting and hopefully the town will respond as well as it did last year for the royal wedding now people know the exact route on the day."

The relay will visit the Norfolk coast at Cromer, via Holt, before heading inland from Aylsham to Norwich in readiness for an overnight stop in the city.

Torchbearers in Norwich include 84-year-old multiple international fencing medal winner Connie Adam and 18-year-old Catton Grove community volunteer Daniel Browne.

'Ready for challenge'

Ms Adam said: "I'm absolutely over the moon to be nominated as a torchbearer. At my age you don't expect anything like that.

"I keep busy and do a lot of walking and play badminton as well as the fencing, so I'll be ready for the challenge."

Mr Browne was born with a bilateral cleft, which not only affected his speech but also his hearing.

He has undergone 20 operations in 18 years to restore his ability to speak and to improve his hearing. He is now involved with the Catton Grove Residents' Association.

He said: "This is certainly not something that happens everyday. I'll be proud to represent Catton Grove and Norwich.

"I enjoy sport, particularly football, and I'm looking forward to the Olympic Games."

Chapelfield Gardens, Norwich, one of 66 locations in the UK to host the flame overnight, will host a two-and-a-half hour show staged by London 2012, including a showcase of local talent.

The show will culminate with the arrival of the Olympic flame to an on-stage cauldron, which is planned to be lit at 19:00.

After the overnight celebrations the torch will leave the city following a breakfast send-off at Norwich Castle and head towards the Broadland villages of Acle and Filby, which is famous for itsBritain in Bloom contributions.

Adrian Thompson, from Filby Parish Council, said: "All our hanging baskets along the route will be red, white and blue this year to mark the Diamond Jubilee.

"In other areas we're creating big flower beds in the colours of the Olympics, complete with three replica torches as a centrepiece.

"We feel very lucky to have the relay coming to our village. Children from the schools in Filby, Fleggburgh and Rollesby will be coming to cheer the torch runners along from Filby Bridge. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

The torch then leaves Norfolk via Great Yarmouth where it will be carried along Caister Road, North Quay and King Street before leaving the town over Haven Bridge.

The Norfolk route forms part of the torch's journey from Land's End, Cornwall, on 19 May, to London for the start of the Olympic Games on 27 July.