FLYING the flag in support of the Olympic Torch as it passed through Filby this morning is a Flegg High School pupil.

Earlier in the day, an electric atmosphere filled Acle this morning as hundreds of people lined the winding streets to watch the torch pass.

Excited spectators began gathering as early as 6.15am ahead of the flame’s appearance at 8.06am.

Pupils from Acle, Lingwood, Freethorpe, Cantley, Reedham and Fairhaven Primary Schools kept the crowds entertained from 7am with music, song and dance performances and restaurants and cafes were open early and serving breakfast.

Among the crowds was Doris Gallie, an art technician at Acle High School, who brought along a large Union flag to wave as the convoy came past.

She said: “I have been tracking the torch online and have been looking forward to today for quite a while.”

Debbie Key, 54, travelled from Hickling to watch the torch go through.

She added: “I had no intention of coming until yesterday and then I realised how close it is and I thought I don’t want to miss out on this, I think I’d have regretted it.”

Loud cheers went up as the convoy came into sight on The Street and youngsters held out their hands to high-five officers from the Metropolitan Police as they rode past on motorbikes, beeping their horns.

Laughs also went up from the crowd when two buses, caught in the convoy, stopped in the centre of the village to let passengers off.

Brian Carr, from Freethorpe, was the last torchbearer to come through the village and was welcomed with waves, smiles and cheers as he jogged from The Street to New Road, holding the flame high above his head.

Acle St Edmund’s youth orchestra played as he passed the entrance to New Close and dozens of spectators jogged through the crowds to watch as he finished his run near the A47 roundabout, and the convoy then moved onto Filby.