London 2012: Olympic torch route through Suffolk announced

The Olympic torch will visit Suffolk as part of its 70-day tour of the UK

The Olympic torch will make two visits to Suffolk on its way to London.

The torch will enter the county via Lowestoft on 5 July and will head south for an overnight stay in Ipswich.

The torch will pass through Wrentham, Reydon, Southwold, Kelsale, Saxmundham, Aldeburgh, Wickham Market, Ufford, Melton, Woodbridge and Felixstowe.

A day later the torch will go through Essex before visiting Haverhill, Bury St Edmunds and Newmarket as it heads to Cambridge on 7 July.

Designated landmarks have been chosen for the route across the UK and one of them is the beach huts in Southwold.

John Windell, Mayor of Southwold, said: "We're all very excited by the news.

'A look around'

"It's a great opportunity to showcase the town and its pier, seafront, marshes and river as well as the beach huts.

"We're looking forward to people coming to watch the relay and then staying to have a look around everything else the town has."

Suffolk's involvement in the torch relay is part of an estimated 8,000m (12,874km) trip around the UK, which will start at Land's End, Cornwall, on 19 May and last 70 days.

Organisers have said 95% of the population will be within a one-hour journey time of being able to see the torch.

Adam Baker, the county council's Suffolk Project Manager for London 2012, said: "It will travel within half a hour of everybody which is fantastic.

"There will be communities that are disappointed, but we're asking those on the route to extend an invitation to those not on the route to celebrate with them.

"We're looking for local leaders to organise celebrations which could be a big street party and we're going to be making resources available to schools."

Christchurch Park will host a public party on 5 July to celebrate the torch being in Ipswich.

The overnight stop on 6 July is in Chelmsford and on 7 July it is in Cambridge.