NAILSEA, Backwell and Flax Bourton have been chosen to host the Olympic torch relay in the run up to the London games next year.

On May 23, five communities in North Somerset, also including Failand and Leigh Woods, will all be part of the route taken by the torch relay as it passes through the district.

Local people are expected to line the streets to welcome the Olympic flame and cheer on the torchbearers.

The North Somerset areas are among more than 1,000 villages, towns and cities to be included in the torch route, which has been devised by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

The 70-day relay will start at Land’s End in Cornwall on May 19 and on its final day will travel down the River Thames to the Olympic Stadium on July 27.

The flame will be carried by 8,000 torchbearers, each of whom have been nominated for the honour in recognition of their contribution to their local community.

LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe said: ‘We are thrilled to confirm Flax Bourton, Backwell, Nailsea, Failand and Leigh Woods will all act as host locations for the Olympic flame, extending an invitation to people across North Somerset to welcome the Olympic torch relay during its journey around the UK.”