IT promises to be a landmark moment in British history.

With an �80m budget, a cast of thousands, and the guiding hand of an Oscar-winning director, the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic games will be watched by an estimated four billion people worldwide.

And among those performing in the spectacular event next month will be Southwold teenager Patricia Tobin.

Patricia, 17, who has been performing since she was four years old, decided to put herself forward after hearing a plea for dancers advertised on the radio. She submitted an application last year and was shocked when she was called up for an audition – winning selection as one of the show's 20,000 performers.

Since then, she has been busy rehearsing for the performance, which is being choreographed by Danny Boyle – best known as the director of films such as Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours.

She told The Journal: 'When I go to rehearsals everyone is really hyped up and its not a serious atmosphere at all. They make it so you have fun. I'm not really feeling too nervous about it, just looking forward to it really.'

Mr Boyle says the ceremony will be titled Isles of Wonders, after a speech in Shakespeare's play The Tempest.

It will feature Europe's biggest bell which will be specially made to ring in the start of the 2012 games.

Patricia, who attended Southwold Primary School, St Felix School, and East Norfolk Sixth Form College, is currently spending her weekends in London to rehearse ahead of the big event on Friday, July 27.

She has been given the chance to perform with a host of celebrities, but is not allowed to reveal who.

Asked whether her parents would be heading down for the occasion, Patricia, whose father Simon is a Southwold town councillor, said: 'Unfortunately they will have to watch it on the TV, but I think they're proud of me.'

As previously reported, Jessica Peek, 18, from Oulton Broad will also be among the dancers performing in the opening ceremony and Naomi Barbeer, 21, from Lowestoft, will be dancing in the games' closing ceremony.