175,000 greet Olympic torch relay in south Essex
An estimated 175,000 lined the streets of Rayleigh, Southend, Hadleigh and Basildon for the Olympic torch relay.
The figures released by Essex County Council suggest around 300,000 came to see the torch as it travelled through the county on Friday.
Basildon had the most spectators with 65,000 watching.
Southend had 45,000 people lining the route while 35,000 residents came to see the torch go through Hadleigh.
Rayleigh, which saw the flame come in at 10.20am, had an estimated 30,000 people standing along the route.
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