ALTON'S own Festival of Sport, to take place this Sunday to celebrate the opening next Friday of the London 2012 Olympic Games, will start with a torch relay through the town.

The organisers have been given dispensation by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) for relay runners to use the torch, carried by relay torchbearer Sue Hubbard.

It will be an exciting start to the festival and great news following the disappointment felt when originally told that to use the torch would bring down the wrath of LOCOG, and could result in legal action.

The directive seemed to go against the key message being put out by the London Olympics committee that this year's Games should be inclusive.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.