LIVE: Olympic torch relay in Dorset (July 12) (From Dorset Echo)

LIVE: Olympic torch relay in Dorset (July 12)

8:20pm Thursday 12th July 2012 in Local News

8.20pm The torch continues its journey tomorrow at 7.05am from Portland Bill and we'll be live blogging once again. You can see the route and find out more about the torchbearers here

Don't miss the Dorset Echo tomorrow for lots more coverage. We'll have more pictures online tomorrow too, so come back for more!

7.30pm- Catherine again- just got back from being on the bus through Chickerell, Wyke Regis and down to Chesil Beach. The crowds were fantastic even though the weather was horrible. There were even some people in fancy dress. A great end to a fantastic day.

6.15pm So far the Olympic torch has travelled 6,156 miles

6.06pm - Rachael and Rachel just got back from Portesham. Very wet and rainy but that hadn't dampened anyone's spirits. All the community had come out to cheer the torch on, with live music and stalls at The Kings Arms.

Beach celebration tweets

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6.05pm At 6.51pm Katrina Hughes, 22, from Portland, will carry the flame to the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy, onto Osprey Quay, where she will hand the flame to double Gold Olympic medallist Rodney Pattisson MBE, who will be waiting in a sailing boat. Di Ludlow, 67, from Weymouth is the last torchbearer of the day and will carry the flame into the evening beach celebration.

5.55pm Weymouth beach is a sea of umbrellas!

5.25pm A massive metal bear in Chickerell welcomes the torch

5pm We've just added lots more pictures to our gallery, take a look here

16.48- Hello Samantha and Emma here- we just got back from our trip to Chideock and are now getting ready to report from the Torch Relay celebrations on Weymouth Beach this evening! We're very excited- the rain can't dampen the Olympic Spirit!

If you are on Twitter please tweet us using the hashtag #dorsetrelay so we can see your reactions as the torch passes.

4.16pm- Catherine here again- Just getting ready to go to Chickerell for the torch relay at 5.40pm. I'm so excited, we will be on the bus for over an hour, weaving through Wyke Regis to Portland Beach Road. Can't wait to see the streets lined with people and the flags. The Olympics and Paralympics seem so close now. Ok time to put my waterproof jacket, trousers and wellies on!

If you are in the crowds in Weymouth tonight or at the beach party send us your view of the day via email to newsdesk@dorsetecho.co.uk or via text to 80360 and start your message with DE.

4pm- DorsetEchoEmma: winding our way back to #Weymouth through the rain. Can't wait for beach celebrations tonight.

3.50pm- Catherine- The Great British Summer is still with us but thousands of people are still out on the streets of Dorset.

3.20pm - EchoRBurnett: Still buzzing from seeing the #dorsetrelay in dorchester. What a great turn out. Off to portesham this afternoon for more torch fun!

3.13pm - DorsetEchoSam: Torch coming through #chideock now- atmosphere's amazing in spite of the rain!

3.07pm - DorsetEchoRach: Torchbearer Tim Ellis will be visiting patients and staff at the Joseph Weld Hospice

3.05pm- DorsetEchoSam: Elizabeth Grant and the volunteers here in #Chideock are busy serving hot tea and coffee to cold and wet spectators

3.03pm- DorsetEchoSam: We're here in #chideock for dorsetrelay- the streets are looking lovely even in the rain, with lots of flags to welcome the Torch

3pm- EchoRBurnett: Just saw the #dorsetrelay come through dorchester. Hundreds of people lining the streets, flags waving, church bells ringing

2.36pm- Catherine here again- Just got back from Puddletown and its still raining. But met Ashley Glazebrook aka Twist from Twist and Pulse on Weymouth Beach, who was absolutly lovely. Even though it was raining he posed for pictures and the guys have given us lots of t-shirts for prizes in our charity curry and quiz fundraiser on July 20. So thank you guys!

Twist and Pulse said they can't wait for the performance at the beach later so get down there for 5.30pm, it's going to be fantastic.

2.34pm Hundreds lined the streets of Puddletown earlier for the torch. It was fantastic to see young and old joined in cheering the torchbearers, Marion Marchant and Stacey Herring, on.

Despite the rain everyone was cheering, shouting and taking pictures. Hundreds of schoolchildren roared and shouted their encouragement as the whole community got behind the event.

2.15pm The torch is now in Convoy Mode while it travels to Winterbourne Abbas.

2.10pm Rachel Stretton and Rachael Burnett here in Dorchester. Hundreds of people braved the rain to see brother and sister Annie and Ben Macklin carry the torch through High West Street. The town looked fantastic with flags waving and lots of people lining the streets cheering on the torch.

1.53pm Reporter Rachel Stretton has taken this picture of 1948 torchbearer Alf Barrett with Dorchester mayor Andy Canning.

12.54pm We've started a gallery of pictures taken so far today. We'll keep addding to it as the day goes along. Don't forget to send us your pictures for our reader gallery. You can text them to us from where you are - just send them to 80360, starting your message with DE

12.36pm Sue Garner, head of 6th form at Lytchett Minster School, said she was proud to see her nominee Ben Hanger as a torchbearer in Milborne St Andrew

12pm The flame is back on the bus again on its way to Winterbourne Whitechurch where it is due to arrive at 12.06pm

11.56 Reporter Emma Walker takes a picture of torchbearer Natasha Jones, who will be running through Winterbourne Abbas at around 2.25pm.

11.25am The torch is currently at Blandford Forum where there are crowds of five people deep.

11.05am The torch relay started at 7.49 this morning at Salisbury Cathedral.

Thousands of people lined the streets to see US Olympic sprint champion Michael Johnson carry the torch along the Close. It is now heading towards Blandford.

10.48am In total, the flame is being carried for 107.8 miles today by 116 torchbearers.

10.25am The Salvation Army has been in touch to let us know they will be on hand helping out at the torch relay.

Their emergency vehicle will be at Chalbury Corner, Preston, tomorrow morning handing out free refreshments to spectators

10.13am- Kirsty here- I'm off to Milborne St Andrews to see the torch.

9.58am- Catherine here- I went through North Dorset last night on the Olympic Torch route and it looks fantastic. People were hanging bunting and flags up and there were banners up welcoming the torch.

Dorset is ready to welcome the Torch.

9.57am Moving Tides procession has been cancelled due to bad weather forecast. You can read more here

I'm now off to Puddletown to video the Torch going through- so excited!

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• See where the torch will be going and when and find out who will be carrying it here.

• Email your pictures to newsdesk@dorsetecho.co.uk

• Text photos and videos to 80360, starting your message with DE

• On Twitter? Tweet your pix @Dorsetecho and tag them #dorsetrelay so we can see your photos

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