Olympic Torch to pass through Glastonbury

It has been formally announced today that the 2012 Olympic torch will be passing through Glastonbury on day 4 of its 8000 mile, 70 day journey around the country.

According to organisers more than 95 per cent of the UK population will be within ten miles of the torch as it travels from Lands End in Cornwall on Saturday 19th May and finishes at the London Olympic stadium on Friday 27th July.

On Tuesday 22nd May 2012, on its local journey through Somerset, the torch will depart from Ilminster, and amongst other places will pass through Yeovil, Somerton, Street, Glastonbury, Coxley, Wells, Shepton Mallet and Frome and Bath, before finishing in Bristol where a festival will be held in its honour.

Lord Coe, chairman of the Games organising committee, said "I'm delighted that the Olympic torch relay will take the 2012 Games to almost every corner of the UK and that we have achieved our ambition to take the flame to within an hour's journey of 95 per cent of the population."

It is expected that thousands of people will turn out to watch the torch each day. although somewhat controversially it is anticipated that only about 25% of the journey will be a traditional relay with runners carrying and passing the flame; much of the time the journey will be carried out by car.

What do you think of the torch relay?  Is it something you'd be interested in watching as it quickly passes through our town in the only live olympic event most will get to experience, or is it just a waste of taxpayers money?  Let us know below.