ALTON may not have had the honour of being on the Olympic torch route – but seven people flew the flag for the town by proudly carrying their torches through Petersfield, Midhurst, Lymington, and Bournemouth.

And Treloar student Thomas Blumire, 19, is yet to undertake his torchbearing duty as the Olympic flame is carried toward London's Olympic Stadium.

The reason the torchbearers were selected reads like a glittering role of achievement and they did the town proud at the various venues they found themselves running, whether in pouring rain or in a rare burst of sunshine.

The cheers they got were well deserved and they managed to keep their 'cool' as thousands lined the various routes to wave flags and banners to cheer them on.

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