THOUSANDS of free tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Evening Celebration on Weymouth Beach were snapped up in just over two hours.

Applications for the wristbands for the event were launched on the borough council’s website at 7am yesterday morning, and by 9.06am they had all been allocated.

The free two-and-a-half hour celebration on the beach will take place on Thursday, July 12, and includes performances from rapper Wretch 32, the Britain’s Got Talent dance act finalists Twist & Pulse and an acrobatic display.

There will be a drumming spectacular with local children from the ‘Moving Tides’ carnival, the bands Weapons of Sound, Magic Drum Orchestra and B-Sharp with audience participation. The family entertainment is being staged by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), the three Presenting Partners of the Torch Relay – Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung – and the borough council.

Councillor Ian Bruce, the borough council’s spokesman for leisure and tourism said: “We are delighted that there has been such a great response from the public for this very special event “It is fantastic that so many people are keen to celebrate the Olympic Torch Relay.”

He added: “We understand that some people who missed out will be disappointed but they can still be involved with the day by lining the route and cheering on our local Torchbearers, watching the Moving Tides Carnival and the fireworks display.”

Gates to the beach site will open at 4pm on Thursday, July 12, with the entertainment scheduled to begin from 5.30pm.

For those who did not get a ticket, there will still be celebrations to enjoy along the torch relay route, as the Olympic flame passes through West Dorset and the borough on Thursday, July 12, and on the morning of Friday, July 13.

At 4pm on Thursday, July 12, more than 800 local school pupils will dance through town and along The Espl-anade as part in the Moving Tides Children’s Carnival, which is set to be bigger and better than ever before.

The Torch Relay sponsors will also have a range of activities on the Pavilion Forecourt during the afternoon and evening of July 12 and a firework display will start at 9.30pm.

To find out more about the Olympic Torch Relay Evening Celebration being held on Weymouth Beach visit dorsetforyou.com/2012torchtickets.

For more information about where the Olympic flame will travel visit dorsetforyou.com/sailing2012 <54>Spectator site work to begin CONSTRUCTION is set to begin on the Weymouth spectator site for the Olympic Sailing competition.

On Monday, July 16, work will start on a central area of Nothe Gardens to prepare it for 4,600 ticketed spectators each day during the sailing events of the London 2012 Games from Sunday, July 29, until Saturday, August 11.

Work to install temporary structures and facilities for the spectator site will continue with a second area of the Gardens closing on Monday, July 23.

During this time, the majority of the Gardens, and the Fort, will remain open to the public.

On Thursday, July 26, the remaining part of the spectator site and Nothe Fort will close to the public and re-open on the morning of August 13. To minimize disruption, access to work vehicles will be restricted to the hours of 7am to 7pm from July 16 to 26 and from 7am to 10pm from July 27 to August 12 during the Games. Noise levels will be closely monitored and working practices changed if necessary.

The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has pledged to return Nothe Gardens to the public with upgraded footpaths and toilets.

STAFF from LOCOG and the borough council will be holding two Games surgeries for local residents on Thursday, June 28.

All are welcome to discuss any issues at Ritz Café, Weymouth Pavilion, from 12.30pm to 2.30pm and at house number 12, Sailing Village, Officers Field, Portland, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.