A third of the tickets available for next month’s Olympic Torch event in South Park have already been snapped up.

The Olympic Flame will arrive in Oxford on July 9 and make its way to the Headington Hill park for a huge party.

Gates will open at 3.30pm and rock band Young Guns and Britain’s Got Talent dance act Twist & Pulse will perform. There will also be performances from the Playhouse theatre, local act Under Construction, folk musicians, Anjali Dance Company and the Oxford County Youth Band.

Sporting activities will also be on offer, including demonstrations of trampolining and tennis.

Oxford City Council made 20,000 free tickets available at 9am on Wednesday and 7,055 have already been taken. To get tickets, visit ticketmaster.co.uk or call 0844 844 0444.

Last month, traders who sell food complained regulations enforced by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) meant they would have to cover up their branding until 7.30pm at the park.

The rules state that anyone with a stall at the event will have to cover up branding promoting their product.

The following day, the Olympic Torch will visit towns in south Oxfordshire, including Abingdon and Wallingford.