THOUSANDS of spectators are expected to line the streets of Malvern this morning to see the Olympic Torch relay come through the town.

The visit by the torch relay is expected to be one of the biggest events the town has seen for years, with councils, businesses and other local organisations joining forces to make it a day to remember.

A taskforce of Malvern traders has been busy over the last two nights inflating 2012 gold balloons and setting them on sticks for children to wave as the convoy goes by.

“The Olympic Torch relay organisers have asked towns to line the streets with gold and we felt this was one way of adding a touch of gold to Great Malvern,” said town trader Sarah Grout.

As part of the build-up to the big day, Malvern Hills District Council held a reception at the Morgan Motor Company factory in Pickersleigh Road, Malvern, for torchbearers from Malvern, as well as those from elsewhere who have also been chosen to carry it through the town.

The group watched a short film on Morgan’s history before they were given a guided tour of the factory and enjoyed refreshments at the visitor centre.

Council chairman Paul Tuthill said: “The Olympics is the best of the world so we thought we would show them the best of British here at Morgan.

“We’ve very proud of all our Malvern torchbearers and the fact the relay is coming through the district.”

A group of warm-hearted Malvern people are set to be offering free hugs to passers-by as part of the town’s Olympic Torch celebrations.

Led by local tai-chi instructor Altair de Almeida, they were set to offer the hugs below the Elgar statue, on Belle Vue Island, between noon and 2pm.