Andy's late date with Olympic Torch

A COUNCIL worker who missed his big date with the Olympic Torch has finally got his hands on the iconic emblem a month later.

Rotherham Borough Council's Green Spaces manager, Andy Lee, was taken ill just a few hours before the torch was set to pass through the town.

Having devoted the past few months to making sure that Rotherham's few hours with the torch would go smoothly, Andy was taken to hospital whilst setting up barriers and tents in Clifton Park.

But he experienced the party atmosphere this week when he was a guest of Rotherham’s Olympic “twin”, Barking and Dagenham, on Sunday, even getting his hands on a torch during the day’s celebrations.

Andy said: “I was really disappointed to miss out in sharing the excitement as the torch came through Rotherham but thanks to the partnership with Barking and Dagenham I have been able to be part of this exciting event, something I thought I had missed the opportunity to see.”