AN engineering company struck gold when it landed a contract to help design the Olympic torch.

Tecosim, in Southfield Business Park, Laindon, worked on the torch, which was unveiled yesterday.

It will travel from Greece to the opening ceremony in London next year, coming through Essex in July.

The torch is a three-sided cone, made from gold-painted aluminium alloy, with a perforated shell where the flame will burn through.

Tecosim specialise in computer-aided engineering and helped main designers, Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, with the torch’s inner workings, how it will light and how it will stay lit.

Basildon Council leader Tony Ball said: “I am very pleased below the big name sponsors, companies from Basildon will be involved in the process. It is all part of Basildon wanting to be part of the Olympics.”

Stuart Hawker, director of Tecosim, said: “We are very proud to be involved and it is great to have an involvement as a local company for such a prestigious event.”

The torch travels from Ipswich to Chelmsford on July 6, but a final route has yet to be decided.