HUNDREDS of people began queuing outside the Town Hall in Ipswich early today to pick up free tickets to the Olympic torch relay celebration event in Christchurch Park in July.

The torch relay stopover in Ipswich on July 5 is the only one in Suffolk and after a slow start the queue for tickets built up steadily.

The dozen or so brave souls who arrived before 7am were soon joined by more than 250 others by 8.15am, with the queue snaking past Waitrose to Giles Circus.

People are allowed a maximum of six tickets – two adult and four children – and more tickets will be offered online from 11am today via the Regent Theatre website.

Online orders incur a �3 postage and packaging fee.

Councillor Bryony Rudkin, culture portfolio-holder, was one of the earliest to arrive in the queue for tickets. She said: “After a slow start it soon picked up and it was nice to chat to people about the excitement of the Games and the event in Christchurch Park in July. It’s a once in a lifetime occasion and I am glad I braved the early morning cold. It has been well worth it.”

For those who do not get one of the 10,000 tickets - half of which are reserved for schools and sports clubs - there will be a giant screen at the bottom of the park which will combine with an entertainment “village” for people who can not get to the event itself.