Artist Tracey Emin will be taking her place in the Olympic history books by running as a torchbearer through her home town of Margate.

The 48-year-old will pause outside the Turner Contemporary gallery in the town on July 19, where she has an exhibition of new work - opening tomorrow.

She will be one of the key runners as the Olympic flame takes four days to work through the county - just before entering the Olympic city of London.

The relay’s visit to Kent will include the torch being rowed along the River Medway in Maidstone and taking in Brands Hatch, the venue of the Paralympic Road Cycling competitions in September.

KCC Cabinet member for Customer and Communities Mike Hill said: “It is a real honour for the gallery to be included in the torch relay and it is particularly right and fitting that Tracey Emin should be a Torchbearer.

"Margate and the gallery will be put firmly on the Olympic map.”

Director of Turner Contemporary Victoria Pomery said: “We are delighted that the Olympic Torch will be coming to Margate this July.

"The Tracey Emin exhibition at Turner Contemporary is an important part of the London 2012 Festival, and so it’s brilliant that Tracey will be running with the torch through her home town to the gallery.”

Leader of Thanet District Council Clive Hart said he was "extremely pleased"

that the Turner Contemporary Gallery, one of Thanet's greatest attributes, would be featured on the torch relay route.

He said it was a wonderful opportunity to showcase all that Thanet has to offer.