Olympic countdown under way in Sidmouth

Excitement grows for London 2012

A COUNTDOWN to the London 2012 Olympic Games is under way at a Sidmouth sports shop.

Ex-professional footballer Chris Hargreaves and business partner Charlotte Hollingshead have put an electronic counter on display at their High Street Sports Republic store in a bid to get the town, and schoolchildren, interested in the highly anticipated event.

Positioned in store, the countdown clock - switched on by Paul Walker, headteacher of soon-to-be-opened Sidmouth Church of England Primary School - will keep track of the days left until the London Games.

Chris Hargreaves said: “We wanted to do it as it’s something different, it’s quite fun and exciting.

“The Olympics is such a big occasion it’s nice to do something to get involved.”