THE Olympics may be over but a Widnes man is getting ready for the Paralympics.
Mark Allen, who works for Halton Borough Council, will carry the flame in London ahead of the games which start in the city on August 29.
Among his team will be Brian Barnes, aged 78, an Olympian from 1952.
Forty-year-old Mark has had cystic fibrosis from birth and is a gold, silver and bronze medallist at the European and British Transplant Games -where he competes in table tennis and javelin.
He was a spectator at the Olympics, watching Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis win gold medals, and is now excited for his moment in the spotlight.
He said: “As you can imagine I can’t wait to carry it. I only wish it was in the north or Midlands then family and friends could see me as my friends are up here now.”
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