SPORTS fans have been left smouldering with disappointment that the Olympic torch will not be coming into the Forest.

The flame will skirt around the Dean during the 70 day journey but will not call into any of its major centres of population.

Anybody who wants to cheer on the torchbearers will have to travel to Hartpury, Corse and Staunton or cross over the border to Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth.

Civic leaders are delighted the Forest has been included in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Route.

But closer to the ground many are upset that they face having to travel to the fringe of the Forest or into Wales and Herefordshire to see it.

The golden torch will enter Gloucestershire on the afternoon of May 23 as part of a 70 day tour of more than 1,000 towns and villages.

After a major free community event at Cheltenham Racecourse that night, the runners will take the flame to the Forest of Dean on May 24.

It will then head into Herefordshire via Ledbury and return to Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth on May 25 2012.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games said it had to work hard to devise a route that means the torch will come within ten miles of 95 percent of the population and are encouraging schools to get involved.

Coun Terry Hale, cabinet member for the community at Forest of Dean District Council said: "This means that people right across the district can see the Olympic Flame and witness the spectacle of the Olympic Torch Relay. It will provide a chance for community celebrations right across the Forest of Dean and will mark the countdown to the start of the games.

"It will also give us all chance to show our support for members of the community who have the honour to be chosen to run with the Olympic flame."

But Forest of Dean Gymnastics Club coach Lynn Hammersley, who carried the Commonwealth torch when the games came to Manchester on 2002 and is nominated for the Olympic flame, is among those who wish it was visiting a Forest landmark like the Speech House Hotel.

"I am disappointed," she said. "I carried the Commonwealth torch and the nearest it came to the Forest was Cirencester.

"I know they can't get absolutely everywhere, but it is a shame that it is not coming to the Forest itself because it would have given the whole community a boost.

"I will never forget the feeling of that torch being placed in my hand, but it's not the same if you are not carrying it through your own community. You do not have the same support."

"I think people will travel to see it but children in particular will be disappointed that it is not coming through the Forest.

"The Forest seems to miss out because it is on the fringe of Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire and Herefordshire."

Lynn and husband Chris Hammersley are such big sports fans they travelled to the Olympic Games in Sydney.

But Lynn was disappointed to see row upon row of empty corporate seats and hopes the same thing will not happen in London after she failed to get any tickets for the 35-year-old club for the 2012 event.

She has even written to Seb Coe to tell him how disappointed the club was to miss out on gymnastics tickets.

But Lynn still harbours hopes that the club will be used as a training venue for one of the Olympic hopefuls.

Seb Coe, chairman of LOCOG said: "This is the UK's moment to shine and I want to encourage people across the Forest of Dean district to start planning how they can be part of this once in a lifetime opportunity."

The Olympic Torch Relay starts at Land's End on May 18 and 8,000 torch bearers will carry it around the country before it enters the Olympic Stadium on July 27 2012 for the opening ceremony.