North-East's Olympic Torchbearers Get Some Good News

A lucky few in the North-East found out they've bagged the chance to carry the Olympic flame today.

2 people from the North-East got their first conditional offers today to carry the Olympic Flame next summer.

18-year-old Jess Colborn from Northumberland was struck down by a stroke last year and had to battle to learn to walk again.

The A-level student from Allenheads been chosen to carry the Olympic torch at next year's relay.

She said: "Carrying the Olympic torch is an amazing thing to get involved with. It will be great for me and it shows just how far I have come."

Mick Riding, 55, an IT project manager from Newcastle, was nominated after years of being a role model to boys at the North Shields hockey club, which he established.

He was nominated by his "long-suffering wife" Annette with whom he has two children.

He said: "The whole thing will be fantastic - this is going to be bigger than the 1966 World Cup."

They have until the 25th January to accept.

The torch will be in our region next June