Report this comment
  • "If Bernard Manning, Ronaldo Martine, Ellies Mum or anyone else wants to trade personal insults, don't come to a gun fight with a pen-knife.

    You have not argument and you know it."
  • This field is mandatory
  • This field is mandatory
  • Please note we will not accept reports with HTML tags or URLs in them.


  • Enter the above word in the box below

Please be fair, courteous and respectful to the views of others so we can build a vibrant community in a safe online environment. You are personal liable for your comments and action will be taken against anyone who offends, ridicules or posts malicious and damaging views. If you wish to complain, please contact us.

VIDEO: Olympic torch relay in Rayleigh, Southend, Hadleigh and Basildon

Torch relay comes to town. Marc Grayston, with the torch and mayor Mo Larkin Torch relay comes to town. Marc Grayston, with the torch and mayor Mo Larkin

THOUSANDS of people turned out to welcome the Olympic torch to south Essex.

About 30,000 people, including school children, lined the route in Rayleigh on Friday morning.

The torch then travelled into Southend, where Olympic swimmer Mark Foster was a torchbearer.

He was greeted by thousands of cheering people as he made his way along the High Street.

Southend seafront was packed and those who turned out where treated to music from a choir made up of more than 1,000 school children, who welcomed the torch's arrival.

After passing through Leigh, the torch went to Hadleigh where it was, again, welcomed by cheering crowds.

The event in Hadleigh also took in the Olympic mountain biking course, which is set to attract hundreds of visitors during the Games.

The torch then travelled to Basildon. The new Sporting Village was the focus of the event.

Thousands of people stood in the rain to watch the once in a lifetime moment.

It was greeted on the seafront by a 2,000-strong choir singing a specially-commisioned song "Anthem".

It then travelled west to Chalkwell.

The torch arrived in Hadleigh at 1.50pm and took in the mountain biking venue at Hadleigh Castle just before 2.30pm.

It then went to Basildon and Grays at about 3.25pm.

Olympic torch relay in Essex

Echo has no responsibility or control over the content on external blogging sites, but you can contact us if you have a complaint.

Olympic torch relay in Essex

Echo has no responsibility or control over the content on external blogging sites, but you can contact us if you have a complaint.

Local Businesses

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree