POLICE have defended their decision to hold a full-scale security review of the West Somerset Olympic torch route which saw the force helicopter and dozens of officers in riot vans, motorbikes and both unmarked and marked police vehicles descend on the area.

The convoy sparked concern that a major incident was unfolding in the district as officers made their way from Porlock to Taunton, complete with emergency blue lights flashing.

Witnesses reported seeing disabled drivers being ordered to move their cars out of the way of the procession of vehicles and described the unfolding scene as "absolutely awful".

But there was no emergency. Instead, the large operation was held to enable Avon and Somerset Constabulary to ensure it was ready to tackle any problems posed by the passing of the symbolic flame.

A force spokesman refused to say how many officers or vehicles had been involved in the test run.

He said that, as it was a precursor for a forthcoming operational event, the police would not comment on the logistics for security reasons.

"This was an opportunity to test police communication systems and inter-agency working ahead of the actual event.

"It formed one part of our preparations to ensure the progress of the torch through our region runs smoothly," the spokesman said.

One businessman, who watched aghast as the convoy, complete with helicopter cover, made its way through Minehead, said he was astonished by the scale of the exercise.

"It was terrible because we all initially thought something dreadful was happening.

"Once we realised there wasn't an emergency and we found out what they were actually doing, everyone thought it was absolutely awful.

"There was an entourage of about 15 vehicles, including cars with blacked out glass, men in suits and these police officers who were just ordering people with disabled Blue Badges to get out of their way.

"It was terrible. Everyone was just staring in disbelief and I've heard lots of people saying they can't believe what a waste of money it all was," added the businessman, who asked not to be named.

The torch is due to travel through West Somerset on Monday, May 21, on its way to the Olympic stadium in London for the 2012 games.

It will travel through Lynmouth, Lynton, Porlock, Dunster, Minehead, Carhampton, Washford and Williton en route from Cornwall to London via an 8,000 miles route around the UK.

It is due to arrive in Lynton's Station Hill at 3pm before heading to Lynmouth at 3.14pm.

From there, it is scheduled to reach the A39 at Porlock at 3.44pm before going down Porlock Hill and along the High Street to the Bossington turnoff.

Porlock resident Tilly Adlington, 13, will join runners from Taunton and North Curry for that part of the journey.

The torch will then be taken 'in convoy' to Minehead, where another bearer will take up the flame from Woodside Close at 4.03pm.

The torch will be taken through The Parks, Park Street, Friday Street, Townsend Road, Alcombe Road and Bircham Road.

Bearers include local Minehead youngsters Aimee Murrell and Connor Bazley, both 13, Cara Hawker, 12 and community college student Josh Lee, 17.

Other torchbearers on the Minehead route include runners from Chard, Cardiff, Croydon and Honiton.

The torch will then go in convoy to arrive at Dunster Steep at 4.38pm before bearers from Burnham-on-Sea carry it to Dunster Castle.

The torch will then go in convoy to Carhampton, arriving at 5.10pm at the village boundary to be taken along the A39 to the B3191 junction by a Frenchman and a Bridgwater resident.

It will again be taken in convoy, this time to Washford, arriving at the boundary at 5.20pm and being carried along Station Road to Langtry Country House.

The last leg of the West Somerset route will see the torch travelling in convoy to Williton, arriving in Priest Street on the A39 at 5.31pm.

From there it will be taken to the A358 up Tower Hill to the Sampford Brett junction.

It will be carried by runners from Frome and Taunton on its way to Silk Mills Road in Taunton, where it is due in convoy at 6.08pm.