THE traditional Sunday morning lie-in will be cancelled when the Olympic flame comes to Redbridge.

The torch, which is on a 70-day odyssey around Britain, will start its journey through the borough at 7.19am precisely on Sunday, July 22.

VIPs will gather to watch the torch arrive at the Redbridge Cycling Centre in Forest Road, Hainault.

From there it will cross Fairlop Lake on a boat accompanied by London Youth Games Sailors, to Fairlop clubhouse, where the public will catch their first sight of the flame.

Early risers are expected to throng Barkingside High Street to watch the torch as it is carried towards Ilford.

High Street trader, Tom Kazin, 77, who owns Rowan’s Cafe, said he would be opening his doors early.

“It’s very exciting to have the torch come here,” he said. “I think this part of the world is often neglected, so hopefully this will give everyone a bit of a boost.

“I will try and get out for a glimpse of the torch, but I’m expecting to be very busy so I might miss it.”

At the junction of Cranbrook Road in Gants Hill, Bollywood dancers will entertain the crowds outside the Caraway restaurant before the torch makes it way towards Valentines Park.

Erkan Oran, 35, runs the Titanic Cafe on Cranbrook Road.

He said: “Normally we don’t open until 9am on a Sunday, but I think we’ll make an exception for this day.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the torch on a personal level because I will probably not get another chance in my lifetime.

“But hopefully it will also help business, not only on the day of the Olympics but throughout the Games, because there are a lot of hotels around here where visitors will be staying.”

From Cranbrook Road the torch will travel to Ilford Town Centre and, as it leaves Ilford High Road and is carried down Ilford Lane towards Barking, dancers and drummers will provide a spectacular farewell.

There will be 27 torchbearers, each carrying the flame for 300 metres during the relay.

Among those taking part are 14-year-old Grace Boxall from Buckhurst Hill who recovered from a brain tumour to raise thousands of pounds for charity, and 12-year-old Jess Archard, a promising young athlete from Woodford Green.

The borough is calling its celebrations 'Rise & Shine' and there will be plenty of early morning activities for people to get involved with.

Gants Hill and Ilford Central Libraries will all be open extra early to host Big Book Breakfast Parties in partnership with the Culture Team.

Fullwell Cross Leisure Centre in Barkingside will also be open and members of the public can turn up in their pyjamas to enjoy a special early morning aerobics session.

In Fairlop Waters Country Park, there will be a mass display of Tai Chi and various other sporting activities to keep the crowds entertained.

For those who have yet to have their cornflakes, local church groups will be providing a free breakfast in Barkingside Park from 7am – and, after you’ve eaten your fill, there will be plenty of sporting activities on offer to burn off the calories.

After the torch has passed through Valentines Mansion and gardens there will be a chance to shop at a special farmers market and get involved with arts and crafts activities for all the family in the park.

And for those gathered in Ilford Town Centre there will be an early morning concert with performances from choirs and bands from across the borough.

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