by Nisha Chopra

A student who walks with a false leg faces an opportunity of a lifetime after being selected as an Olympic torchbearer.

Matt Short, of Goldfinch Close, Paddock Wood, was completely unaware that his girlfriend's friend had put his name forward.

The 20-year-old university student set up his own charity after losing his leg to a rare form of bone cancer when he was 16.

He said: "I was nominated through the Samsung public nomination campaign and when they called I thought someone was having me on - it was such a big shock.

"I was really surprised and now it's started to sink I'm really excited."

He added: "I set up my own charity to find out more research into my illness and improve survival rates and I also set up an affordable coaching scheme at Borough Green primary school over the summer."

At the moment Matt is still receiving treatment and struggles to walk long distances on his prosthetic leg, but he hopes that he'll be able to carry the flame unassisted.

Matt added: "It's ever so special just to be involved in something that is going to happen in this country probably once in my lifetime and it'll mark the end of a long period of treatment and illness."

London Olympic organisers will carry out background checks on all 8,000 nominees before they're told next May they can hold the torch.