Olympic Flame

A teenager from Sunderland who has been chosen to carry the Olympic torch says "it hasn't sunk in".

Jessica Boyce, 18, has Asperger's syndrome and was chosen because she became Head Girl of her school and completed years of voluntary work.

Paul Watson, Sunderland Council Leader, said it was an important day for the city.

Heart campaigner Nadine Hollingsworth has spoken of her joy - but also her anxiety about being chosen to carry the Olympic torch through North Shields.

Nadine Hollingsworth has spent years campaigning for more services for children with heart defects has been chosen to carry the torch in North Shields.

Her son Sebastian was born with a serious heart defect and at just three months old had open heart surgery.

He has recovered but will require more operations throughout his life.

Since then Nadine and her husband Ivan, 36, have raised nearly £80,000 for the Children's Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital through their charity Seb4CHUF.

The Olympic torch will visit Sunderland on Saturday 16th June 2012.

See where and when the London 2012 Olympic Torch relay will be near you in the ITV Tyne Tees and Border region.

For a complete list of the torch relay route visit the London 2012 website.

The Olympic Torch will visit these North East towns and cities on Friday 15th June 2012

Alnwick: Bondgate Without, Aydon Gardens, Almouth Road, A1608

Hipsburn: Lesbury Road

Warkworth: A1608, Bridge Street, Castle Street, Castle carpark

Amble: The Wynd, Albert Street

Ashington: Morpeth Road, Booth Road, Station Road

Newbiggin-by-the-Sea: Woodhorn Road

Choppington: Stakeford Lane

Morpeth: Howard Road,

Newgate Street

Hartford: Shields Road

Bedlington: Hartford Road

Blyth: Front Street, Cowpen Road

Whitley Bay: The Links, Promenade

Cullercoats: Front Street

Tynemouth: Front Street

North Shields: Tynemouth Road

Howdon: Tynemouth Road

Wallsend: High Street

Newcastle: Northumberland Street and Grey Street

An average of 115 Torchbearers a day will carry the Olympic Flame during its 8,000 mile journey around the UK before it arrives at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July, 2012 for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony.

The flame will begin coming through the North East on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th June.

As it passes through there will be festivals and performances to celebrate the Olympics in most places.

The people chosen to carry the Olympic Flame through the North East, as well as the full route, has been revealed.

Among those stepping forward to lift the flames is Peter Smith from Prudhoe in Northumberland. Peter has cerebral palsy and until recently did not play any sport. But 18 months ago he found his talent for 'Club Throwing' and went on to win silver at the National Junior Athletics Championships.