PORLOCK is set to become the first village in Somerset to officially welcome the Olympic torch relay on Monday (May 21) as the flame makes its way through West Somerset and on into Taunton Deane.

Church bells will ring out across the village to mark the torch's arrival at around 3.45pm, while residents and shops will be decorated in patriotic red, white and blue.

All residents are being invited to join in a village parade, which will follow the torch route to Doverhay car park, before heading back through the Drang to Dubricius Church for a village picnic.

Members of Porlock Ladies will become cheerleaders, complete with pom-poms, to lead the parade and participants are being asked to take along a plate of food with them to the picnic.

Chris De Vere Hunt has composed a special Porlock Olympic song for the occasion and organisers hope the event will be a memorable occasion.

As reported in last week's Free Press, a convoy of eight vehicles will travel approximately five minutes ahead of the torchbearers, with Porlock the first stop on the West Somerset leg.

Rolling roadblocks will be used across the district and The Parade in Minehead will be closed from noon to 6pm.

The first West Somerset-leg torchbearers will start the descent of the lower reaches of Porlock Hill at Redway and from there carry the flame along Porlock High Street and up the hill to the junction with Bossington.

The torch should reach the top of Porlock Road heading into Minehead at approximately 4pm, where it will be carried via The Parks to Park Street, along Friday Street and into Townsend Road before heading up Alcombe Road and out along Bircham Road to Ellicombe Roundabout.

The flame will reach Dunster Steep at around 4.40pm, starting from below the car park, running past the Yarn Market and up the main road to Dunster Castle.

It is due in Carhampton at about 5.10pm when the torchbearers will enter the village along the main road until the Blue Anchor Bay junction.

The torch should reach Washford at 5.20pm by the Washford Railway Station and Washford Inn before proceeding along Station Road through to Langtry County House.

The convoy is due in Williton at 5.30pm, with the torchbearers entering the village at Priest Street, along to the roundabout and up Tower Hill to the junction for Sampford Brett.

Free parking will be available on Monday at West Somerset Council's Doverhay and Porlock Central car parks in Porlock, Alexandra Road, Clanville and North Road car parks in Minehead, Dunster Steep and Park Street car parks in Dunster and and Killick Way car park in Williton.

Other free parking along the route will include the Sparkhayes campsite in Porlock, the field alongside Chris' Crackers junk shop in Carhampton and Carhampton Village Hall car park, together with Cleeve Abbey and Washford Mill in Washford.

Pay and display car parking will still be available in Summerland Road, along the sea front, Quay West and the station car park in Minehead.

On-street parking and waiting will be banned in a number of areas, which will be marked with 'Police No Waiting' cones or safety barriers.

Council leader Cllr Tim Taylor said: "There is growing excitement at the prospect of seeing these special torchbearers bring the Olympic flame into the hearts of local communities, so that we can all enjoy some Olympic magic."