More than 8,000 people have been awarded free tickets to an entertainment extravaganza to celebrate the Olympic Torch in West London.
The tickets were all snapped up within five hours of phone lines opening for the event at Walpole Park, Ealing, on July 24.
Local residents were invited to apply for tickets for the evening of family entertainment, organised to mark the Olympic Flame’s visit to the borough.
The huge event will include live music, acrobatics and more, as well as the arrival of the torch into the park.
The flame will begin its journey through Ealing at Northala Fields, in Northolt. Torchbearers will then carry it towards Southall and along the Uxbridge Road through Hanwell, West Ealing and on to Ealing High Street, Ealing Green and St Mary’s Road, before reaching the celebration at Walpole Park.
Among the torchbearers will be Brentside High School pupil Sydney Richards and Southall resident Tom Thacker, who were chosen from dozens of nominations by Ealing Council for the honour.
Sydney’s mother Deanne Straker said: “It will make me so proud to see Sydney carrying the torch. Our family and friends will all be out there to cheer her on the day.”
Residents who were unable to secure tickets for the evening celebration are being urged to line the streets in the borough instead to watch the relay and cheer on the torchbearers.
Ealing Council is also hoping to set up a giant screen near the park so that more people can enjoy watching the entertainment.