A GIRL whose great-grandfather carried the 1948 Olympic torch is hoping she could follow in his footsteps.

The search is on for Oxfordshire torchbearers to carry the Olympic flame as it passes through the city next year.

And 11-year-old Bethany Dutton, of Yarnton, whose great-grandfather Harry Hughes, of Wantage, ran the torch through London ahead of the 1948 Olympics, is hoping to be picked.

Yesterday, the route of the 70-day, 8,000-mile Olympic torch relay was announced.

The torch, carried by 8,000 bearers, will snake across the nation, starting on May 19, 2012, ahead of the opening ceremony on July 27, 2012.

It will pass through Oxford on July 9, 2012.

It has not yet been announced what route the torch will take, but the Iffley Road running track – where Sir Roger Bannister ran the first official four-minute mile – has been suggested.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games is now looking for nominations for inspirational people to carry the symbolic flame.

Sports mad Bethany, who is a keen runner, footballer, and karate enthusiast, hopes to be in with a chance.

She has Mr Hughes’ torch and said: “I feel very proud of my great-grandad. I think it would be cool to be nominated to be part of it. I’m very excited about the Olympics.”

Sir Roger said he was looking forward to the torch coming to Oxford where he hoped it would do a lap of the track, where he set the world mile record on May 6, 1954.

He said: “It’s great news the relay is coming through Oxford. We’re expecting it to do a lap of the Iffley Road running track. It has so many happy memories.”

Roadworks in Iffley Road are scheduled to still be going on next July, but a county council a spokesman said they did not yet know whether the route would be affected.

The Olympic flame will travel for approximately 12 hours each day, concluding on 66 of the 70 days with an early evening celebration with entertainment and shows staged by LOCOG.

Each celebration event will differ, but thousands of people are expected to celebrate along the route each day.

The finer details of the event had not been released last night.

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said: “I am delighted that Oxford will be hosting the torch relay and holding an evening celebration.

“It is likely to be once in our lifetime that we see the Olympics held in our country so we need to make the most of it and not everyone will be lucky enough to watch a live event.

“Beyond being a great sporting and cultural festival, the Olympics will help to increase tourism and bolster the local economy.”

London Olympics chairman Lord Coe said: ‘We are thrilled that Oxford City Council has agreed to host the Olympic Flame on its journey right across the UK.

“The Olympic Flame will shine a light right across Oxford, celebrating the culture and heritage of the area and showcasing the very best of Oxford.

“We have no doubt that the welcome Oxford City Council will provide will demonstrate how the spirit of the Olympic Games is reaching out across the UK and excitement builds as the start of the 2012 Games draws closer.”

The torch will be in Luton immediately before it comes to Oxford and afterwards will head to Reading.

Torchbearers must be nominated by 11.59pm on Wednesday, June 29, 2011. To nominate someone, click on the link below to go to the London 2012 website.