Large screens will be erected in Ilford Town Centre during this summer’s Olympic Games as the town bids to turn the area into a huge crowd-puller during the fortnight of sport.

The town centre management team along with Redbridge Council have launched Project Active Ilford, which will include a series of Olympic-themed events including an international food market, live music, dancing and sport-themed activities which are being finalised.

The big screens will be situated in “strategic locations in the town centre”.

Town centre manager Neil Davis said: “We want the community to catch as much of the sports action as possible and the screens will broadcast live throughout the Olympic Games.

And we also want people to get involved in a wide range of other activities, which we are finalising now along with the council.”

A report will go to the council’s cabinet in February outlining the proposals of the Ilford Business Improvement District (BID).

Council lead Cllr Keith Prince said: “It will be a really good opportunity for residents to celebrate the Olympics locally and we’re really pleased they are looking to involve these plans.”

All the events will take place in the pedestrianised area of the town centre, outside Waterstones and Argos.

BID chairman Marc Myers said: “I am delighted that our two organisations are proving that collaborative working is the most fruitful.

“Ilford town centre management and London borough of Redbridge are demonstrating some of the key recommendations of the [Mary] Portas review with this event.”