PEOPLE in Worcestershire are being encouraged to hold their own celebrations to mark the imminent arrival of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

With just over six months to go until the start of the games, neighbourhoods are being urged to create their own Olympic moments by participating in the Community Games scheme.

More than 220 community games events, involving 165,000 people, have taken place in the Midlands since the programme launched in 2010. This number is expected to rise to 500 by the end of 2012.

Events can take whatever format their organisers choose, with one of the more inventive offerings coming from Evesham woman Sue Jenkinson, who organised hers as part of the British Asparagus Festival held there in May 2011. Entitled Asparalympics, games included asparaspear throwing and asparabaton relay races, using green batons.

David Moorcroft, chair of the West Midlands leadership group for the 2012 Games and former 5,000m world record holder, said: “With only six months to go, now is the time to think about how you are going to get involved.

“Organising your own Community Games is a great and meaningful way to feel part of the London 2012 celebrations.”

To find out about events and how you can get involved, visit wmfor2012.com.