BENFLEET Running Club's Kirste Snellgrove will be one of 80 people carrying the Olympic torch across London tomorrow.

She has been invited to participate in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay which includes celebrities such as Dame Kelly Holmes and Thurrock Harriers' Paralympic champion Danny Crates.

Kirste, 39, will take the torch from Basildon actress Denise Van Outen and her leg is from Piccadilly Circus to the Theatre Royal in Haymarket.

Policewoman Kirste completed the London Marathon and a 220-mile charity bicycle ride in American after recovering from breast cancer.

The athlete was diagnosed with the disease in 2006 and was named Benfleet RC's personality of the year in the same year as well as receiving a special award for overcoming adversity.

The Benfleet club was well represented at Kent's Paddock Wood half-marathon with 21 members running.

Weather conditions were perfect for quick times on the fast and mainly flat course.

Benfleet's Paul Todd, currently in top form, finished 10th in the 1,625-strong field. His time of one hr. 15 mins. 26 secs won him the third prize in the over-40s vet category.

Benfleet's Debbie Gibbins knocked more than two minutes off her half-marathon time at Great Bentley just eight weeks previously by finishing in a time of 1:34:11 to take second place in the over-45s vet category.

A club spokesman said: "This is a memorable week. There were some very fine performances at Paddock Wood across the board with many club runners achieving personal best times.

"It was pleasing to bring two trophies back to Essex in a race that Benfleet has always supported strongly.

"It is a sharpener for those running the London Marathon on Sunday week and certainly bodes well for one of our top athletes, Paul Todd.

"To add to this is the honour of Kirste participating in the 2008 Beijing Torch Relay.

"The club is very proud of Kirste and wishes her all the best as an Olympic torchbearer," the spokesman added.