RACHEL Capell is one of the main organisers for the Olympic celebration in Oxford’s South Park.

Ms Capell, 40, from Didcot, works for the city council as an events officer, and helping to coordinate the performances in the park is one of the biggest jobs she has undertaken.

She said at least 20 staff from the council have been preparing for the Olympic Torch celebrations for more than a year and added that 600 people had volunteered to help out in a variety of roles.

Ms Capell said: “The Olympic Torch coming to Oxford has been a much bigger project than people first envisaged and organising the volunteers has been a mammoth task in itself.

“The event in the park is being split into three main sections, with the LOCOG (London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games) stage featuring acts like Young Guns and dance group Twist & Pulse from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.

“Then there will be acts performing as part of Festive Oxford until about 9.30pm when the evening will finish with the Tree of Light performance, featuring about 500 performers.

“We had to ticket the event for safety reasons, but it should all go smoothly on the day and we are hoping the 20,000 people who did get tickets will come along and enjoy themselves.”

South Park opens at 3.30pm with the main events running from 5pm to 10.30pm.