A DEDICATED Worcester woman who has helped thousands of volunteers give their time to good causes has spoken of her delight playing a role in the Olympic Games.

Sally Ellison, chief officer at Worcester Volunteer Centre, is among the 8,000 torchbearers who will carry the Olympic flame.

She will have the honour of carrying the torch through Worcester on Thursday.

In addition, Mrs Ellison will join the Olympic transport team this summer as a volunteer desk team member, where she will help to co-ordinate the transport requirements of officials, athletes and Olympic committee members at the velodrome and BMX track.

She has already spent six weeks supporting London 2012, when last year she was part of the team which interviewed people who wanted to volunteer for the Games.

The 63-year-old said: “I was really excited when I heard that the Olympic Games were coming to London and I believe that this is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity so I didn’t want to miss the chance to get involved.

“I enjoyed the interviewing sessions and met some really interesting people so I was delighted when I was also selected to be a volunteer.

“I’m really looking forward to my time at the Games and think I will have a very interesting nine days.

“In addition, to have been selected to carry the torch is slightly unbelievable and I’m really honoured.

“I’m hoping lots of my friends, family, staff and volunteers will be able to come and cheer me on as I feel I’m doing it on behalf of everyone connected to the volunteer centre and not just myself.”

Over the past two decades, Mrs Ellison has helped develop services for older and disabled people in Worcester.

Among them include the Worcester Wheels community transport scheme – for which she was awarded an MBE in 2001 – a shopping and gardening service and a befriending service.