YOUNGSTERS from West Dorset will be heralding the start of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games with an open air performance on Weymouth Beach.

Some 180 singers from the Lyme Regis -based B Sharp group will be performing Coastal Voices at the event on the afternoon and evening of Friday, July 27.

People are invited to watch the opening ceremony of the Games live from London on Friday, July 27 on two giant screens at Weymouth Beach’s Live Site.

The site will open to the public from 1pm and between 2pm and 8pm people will be able to enjoy singing performances from the mass choral project Coastal Voices while soaking up the Olympic atmosphere in the build up to the ceremony.

It comes after B Sharp performed Coastal Voices at the Lighthouse in Poole earlier in the summer.

Fran Williams, right, of B Sharp, said they were looking forward to the opening event.

She said: “Everyone is really excited.

“Performing at Poole was great as doing that first as it set that professional tone.

“Being in an indoor arena gave everyone that extra boost.”

B Sharp includes young singers from The Woodroffe School, Colyton Grammar, Axe Valley Community College, St Michael and Mrs Ethelston’s primaries They will be on stage at 4.30pm to 4.50pm.

B Sharp also performed in Weymouth during the Torch Relay celebrations.

Some 180 singers will be at the opening event but at least 250 have been involved during the course of the project with composer John Miles and Billy Bragg.

Coastal Voices is part of the Maritime Mix inspired by London 2012 and the Cultural Olympiad.

The ceremony will include a fireworks display over Weymouth Bay later in the evening.

The free Live Site at the Pavilion end of Weymouth Beach will be able to entertain up to 15,000 people at a time, although access will be closely controlled and managed.

Weymouth and Portland has been decked with banners, flags, bunting, flowers and other display materials as the borough prepares to take on its status as host venue for the London 2012 sailing events. To find out more visit dorsetforyou.com/ sailing2012 or follow@sailing_2012 on Twitter.

Bridport chef to cook for Olympic VIPs

A 21-YEAR-OLD chef from Bridport will be cooking for the VIPs and athletes on Portland for the Olympic games.

Josephine Welch, who trained at Weymouth College, applied to work during the games when she was just 19.

She thought it would be a two-week experience of a lifetime – but it turns out she’ll be a chef de partis for six weeks.

She said: “It is just amazing, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I was really pleased I got picked.”

Also helping out at the Olympic Village is Natalie Badger, 24, gymnastic and swimming teacher at Bridport Leisure Centre, who helps her dad by waitressing at his restaurant.

She is meeting and greeting the competitors and their guests.

She said: “It is exciting and it will be fun meeting all sorts of people but I am a bit worried about all the languages.”