A REPRESENTATIVE from Essex County Council will attend the Beijing Olympics on behalf of the council.

At least one member of staff will travel to China later this year to represent the county.

The revelation comes after local authorities throughout Essex were encouraged to promote their area to possible participants in the London 2012 Olympic games.

Initial rumours suggested a delegation from the council would be attending the games to promote the county in advance of the UK holding the games in four years time.

A spokesman denied this and a second rumour that there would be a reception in China to congratulate the Essex competitors.

He said: "To date, it is expected one member of staff will be travelling to support the pupils and teacher from Notley High School, Braintree, who won the competition organised by Essex County Council for schools across the county to win tickets to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

"Firm details and costs are not available at this stage. However, these spaces are thanks to Essex's long and well-established relationship with the Chinese province of Jiangsu.

"Not only has this put Essex into the national business arena, more than 60 Essex schools have made links with partner schools in the province, with 35 of them actively promoting teaching Mandarin in the county.