London 2012: Olympic torch route for Merseyside and Cheshire revealed

Image caption, The torch route will pass by Antony Gormley's sculptures in Crosby

The route of the 2012 Olympic torch through Merseyside and Cheshire has been announced.

The flame will arrive in Merseyside via Ormskirk on 1 June, 2012 and move through Southport, Formby, Crosby and St Helens to Liverpool and Birkenhead.

The route will take in comedian Ken Dodd's home suburb of Knotty Ash.

The torch crosses the border from Wales on 29 May at Saltney, visiting Chester overnight, and then on to Runcorn, Widnes and Warrington on 31 May.

'Fantastic landmarks'

The route around Merseyside will pass Antony Gormley's Another Place iron men sculptures on Crosby beach on 1 June.

An evening celebration event is planned for Liverpool's Pier Head that night which will include an entertainment show and the lighting of a cauldron from the Olympic flame.

Wendy Simon, Liverpool City Council cabinet member for culture, said: "I know the people of Liverpool will come out on to the streets in their thousands to watch the torch relay taking place.

"It is great that we have so many fantastic landmarks for it to pass, and we have also worked hard to make sure it also travels through many of our communities as well.

"We're already looking at ways to celebrate the arrival of the torch in the city, but what we can say at this stage is that it will be a memorable evening during which our communities can become part of the buzz around the Olympic Games."

The torch arrives in the UK on 18 May and will be carried across the country by 8,000 torchbearers.

The Olympic flame is lit by the sun in Olympia, Greece in a traditional ceremony before it heads to the UK to start the journey from Land's End, Cornwall.

The torch is used to light the Olympic flame which marks the start of the Games and burns for the duration.