London 2012: Sussex councils to spend £130,000 on torch relay

Councils across Sussex are preparing to spend at least £130,000 on events to celebrate the Olympic Torch Relay.

Figures obtained by the BBC range from £1,150 in Rother to up to £40,000 in Hastings and £30,000 in Brighton.

The torch arrives in West Sussex on 16 July and travels to Brighton for an overnight stop and free evening event.

It then heads on to Hastings via Crawley and Lewes for another overnight stay and celebration before passing through Rye on 18 July.

The figures were given to the BBC following a Freedom of Information request.

The costs will cover street decorations, road signs, entertainment and safety equipment.

In Crawley, where the torch will be arriving at 09:02 BST on 17 July, £5,400 is being spent on decorating the town.

The council said another £4,000 would be spent on the route and would include the hire of road signage, cones and the cost of their installation and removal, general safety equipment, mobile entertainment for the crowds and first aid services from St John Ambulance.

Up to 10,000 people are expected to attend Brighton and Hove's celebration at the Sussex County Cricket Club in Hove on day 59 of the torch relay, with the final torchbearer of the day lighting a cauldron with the Olympic flame.

The evening celebration in Hastings on 17 July will take place on the Stade Open Space.

The Olympic torch began its 70-day tour of the UK on 19 May in Land's End.

It will end up at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July when the lighting of the cauldron at the opening ceremony will signify the start of the London Games.