THE Olympic torch will travel around the UK for 70 days next summer with Hampshire expecting to see more of it than any other county outside of London.

The torch bearers will pass through Hampshire between Wednesday, July 11, and Monday, July 16, visiting Petersfield, Basingstoke, Andover, Winchester, New Forest, Southampton, Fareham, Gosport, and Portsmouth.

The cities and towns in Hampshire are among more than 1,000 villages, towns and cities announced by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games through which the Olympic flame will be carried during the London 2012 relay.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.