OLYMPIC fever has officially hit Basildon with the appearance of the Games’ iconic rings across the borough.

The borough is embracing the Games and displaying the rings at three high-profile sites.

The rings can be spotted by Basildon’s famous Hollywood-style sign on the A127, the entrance of South Essex College, in Nethermayne, and on the bank at Radwinter Avenue, in Wickford.

The artworks have been put up prior to the start of the Olympics in July and before the arrival of the Japanese Olympic and Paralympic swimming teams, which will be training at the Basildon Sporting Village, in Cranes Farm Road.

Vin Harrop, chairman of the Foundation for Essex Art and who runs the art gallery at the Eastgate Shopping Centre, Basildon, said: “I think the rings are a great idea and lovely to have in the town with the Olympics so close.

“We are all really looking forward to the Olympics as a town.

“I would encourage everyone, especially children, to take a look at the rings and hopefully gain inspiration for their own art.”

“We are hoping to get some of the Japanese swimming team up to Eastgate art gallery because we have a Japanese exhibition on in July.”

The rings have been made from artificial turf and placed on the grass banks at the three locations.

Tony Ball, leader of Basildon Council, said: “The Olympics will be taking place on our doorstep, and with the torch relay coming through Basildon on July 6 we thought it was a nice way to connect the borough with the greatest show on Earth.”