A mum-of-four who dedicates her spare time to helping those who have lost a child has been selected as a torchbearer.

Claire Marritt, from Norwich, first set up Treasured Dreams, a support group for bereaved parents and families, after her daughter Ellie was stillborn in November 2004.

The married 30-year-old hand makes personalised bereavement packages and sends them all over the world. She also offers support to 3,000 members through the organisation's Facebook page and website and organises an annual remembrance event in Norwich.

She will be one of 8,000 people to carry the historic flame as part of its 70-day journey around the UK.

Mrs Marritt, who is married to Carl and has three sons, Daniel, Ashley and William, and daughter Grace, said: 'I'm really proud and really shocked.

'You got told you had been nominated and then that you've been shortlisted but that's as far as I thought it would go. When I got the letter to say I had been selected, I ran after the postman asking him if it was real.

'When you help other people and do these things, you don't feel in yourself that you're an amazing person. I feel so ordinary to be doing something so extraordinary.

'I'm not used to having something good happen to me so this is just amazing. It will be something to tell my grandchildren one day. I never thought it would happen in a million years.'

Mrs Marritt will carry the Olympic torch on July 5 in Woodbridge, Suffolk.

For more information on Treasured Dreams visit www.tdsupport.org.