Excitement of Olympic torchbearer from Rochdale

Asda employee Nicola Smith (pictured with Fireman Sam) will carry the Olympic Torch in Lancaster

A woman from Rochdale has spoken of her excitement after she was chosen to be an Olympic torchbearer.

Nicola Smith, 32, a Community Colleague at Asda Rochdale, will carry the Olympic flame in Lancaster on 22 June.

Ms Smith was nominated by her colleagues at Asda for the work that she does with disadvantaged children and her work in the community.

She said: “I do a lot of the work in my own time, such as fundraising and working with charities and working with community groups to give children from disadvantaged areas sporting opportunities.

“I do it because I want to do it; I want to make a massive difference.”

Ms Smith didn’t know that she had been put forward by her colleagues at Asda until she got a congratulations email from Coca Cola.

She said: “I was obviously majorly excited, but I am quite a shy person and I don’t like attention.

“Now as time has gone by and I’m getting used to the idea I’m excited and I am over the whole shock of people watching me.”

She added: “I have a passion for doorstep sports – bringing sports to disadvantaged children in disadvantaged areas.

“I feel really honoured to represent the people who I work for.”