THEY include young and old and come from all walks of life, but each one is proud to hold the Olympic torch as it makes its way through the streets of York next week.

These are some of the lucky few who have been successfully nominated for the “once-in-a-lifetime” chance to carry the Olympic flame in North Yorkshire.

Phil Jones, 60, was nominated by a grateful parent thanks to his hard work coaching the juniors at York City Rowing Club to medal success.

He said: “It was completely out of the blue but I am absolutely looking forward to it.

“We are all so excited – I have friends and family coming down to watch.”

Fellow relay team member Brian Hughes is no stranger to pounding the pavements.

He has raised thousands of pounds for charity in a career which has seen him complete nine London Marathons and achieve Fundraiser Of The Year at The Press’s Community Pride Awards.

Despite being a member of the Gild of Freemen of York, Mr Hughes, 58, will carry the torch through Selby.

He is very much looking forward to the day.

“I ran with the Commonwealth torch eight years ago and still have the T-shirt from, that but this is the once-in-a-lifetime one,” he said.

At 74 Clive Warley, from Woodthorpe, is one of the older members of the team.

However, he promised to take the day “in his stride”.

He said: “I have played in a lot of big table-tennis events and I am used to crowds – I will relish it,” he said. “I am really looking forward to it because it’s one of the only times I could have been involved with the Olympics.”

James Hunter, 15, from Scarborough, has battled against the odds to win the honour of carrying the flame through York.

James was born 23 weeks premature and was nominated by his mother Susan.

She said: “He hasn’t always been able to join in sports. James suffered with asthma when younger and has been susceptible to pneumonia and chest infections.

“However he is now 15 and much healthier and stronger than he was and I think this shows the resilience and determination that supports the Olympics.”

Other runners include All Saints School pupil, Jessica Hoggarth-Hall, who will celebrate her 14th birthday on June 20 by taking the flame on part of its journey from York Minster to the National Railway Museum.