Last updated at 22:00, Thursday, 14 June 2012

Olympic fever will come to West Cumbria on Thursday as the torch relay arrives.

Thousands of people are expected to line the streets as the Olympic flame passes through Aspatria, Maryport, Flimby, Workington, Cockermouth and Keswick.

Marking day 34 of its 70-day journey around the UK, it will be greeted by hosts of people. Schools will line the route, while a group of paragliders plan to launch at Latrigg and circle above Keswick as the relay passes through there.

Fifty-nine torchbearers will take turns to carry the torch in Allerdale. They will be preceded by a convoy, which will drop them off at their starting points.

Sponsors’ vehicles will hand out freebies to the crowds.

The main convoy, arriving about five minutes later, will include police, minibuses, a TV crew and a coach.

Each torchbearer will be flanked by police runners during their stretch of the relay.

Netherhall School in Maryport, Cockermouth Leisure Centre and St Herbert’s School in Keswick will be pick-up and drop-off points for the torchbearers.

The convoy will stop for lunch at Stainburn School, Workington, with sports events being held there, Netherhall School and Fitz Park in Keswick.

About 670 pupils from St Joseph’s Catholic High School in Workington will line the route.

Main Street in Cockermouth will close for a celebration event as part of the town’s midsummer festival, with street entertainment, stalls, fairground rides, a dry ice rink and school choirs and bands.

Police, Allerdale council staff, town councillors and staff, and members of Lions and Rotary clubs will marshal the route.

The flame set off on its UK tour from Land’s End on May 19 and will complete its journey to the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27.

Coun Mark Fryer, Allerdale council’s executive member responsible for sports development, said: “This is going to be a big day for Allerdale – a chance for the whole community to celebrate and to mark the countdown to the start of the Olympic Games.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to take to the streets to welcome the Olympic torch and share in the excitement the relay will bring.”

First published at 19:24, Thursday, 14 June 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk