TOWNS and villages in north Suffolk are preparing to mark a “once in a lifetime” event and celebrate the arrival of the Olympic Torch in style.

The procession will start Thursday’s journey through Suffolk in Lowestoft, where thousands of people are expected to line the streets.

Following that, the torch will be carried through Wrentham by four different torchbearers.

Parish clerk Angela Day said: “We have bought in lots of Olympic bunting and flags for the children to wave and we have lots of flowers that are going to be placed along the streets.”

The procession will continue on through the village of Reydon, which has just one lucky torchbearer.

Laura Bird, 19, is a passionate sportswoman from Ipswich who has shown incredible perseverance and bravery after being seriously injured in a car crash last year.

One of the defining moments of the torch’s journey along the Suffolk coast will be when it reaches Southwold’s picturesque pier, where big crowds will also be able to view the pier’s art competition and enjoy a barbecue set to the music of a Caribbean steel band.

Michael Ladd, mayor of Southwold, said: “It is quite an honour, I’m sure people will understand the disruption because it is a once in a lifetime event.”