ORGANISERS preparing for the Olympic Torch Relay visit to Oxfordshire say everything is in place to ensure the event goes smoothly.

The Olympic Torch is due to arrive in Oxford at about 5.15pm on Monday and its visit will be followed by a musical celebration in South Park attended by about 20,000 people.

Last night the finishing touches were being made to the Tree of Light, one of the main features for the evening celebration in South Park.

The £1m project is the centrepiece of the concert in the park and the tree will be lit up by the end of the night.

Gideon Berger, 34, of London-based art installation firm Block9, has been in charge of putting up the 16-metre tree.

He said: “Forty freelance metal workers started putting up the tree about eight days ago and it will be finished tomorrow. We will definitely be ready for the big night and I’m looking forward to seeing the performance.”

Oxford Mail art writer Sarah Mayhew said: "The Tree of Light has landed in South Park, and it looks like Braque and Le Corbousier’s love child (in an East Berlin-esque apartment block kind of way). I love it!

"It’s worn, dystopic, edgy, and intriguing; and there’s not a branch, trunk, leaf, or light in sight. At least not from my side of the fence. It’s a concept, you see… built to save our once poisoned planet.

"The Tree of Light has, I understand, been designed to highlight the rich, fragile relationship between people and their environment and awakening again, it will now tell us its story through music, light, dance and theatre. "Whilst I can’t quite imagine how they’ll be taught, it seems there will be lessons to be learnt from the teachings of this curious creature, and I really can’t wait to peer through its windows and figure out what this cubist carbuncle has to offer."

Project spokesman Rachel Shimell said the Tree of Light would be erected again at Stonor Park, near Henley, on July 21. It could then be displayed in London later this year.

Supt Andy Standem, of Thames Valley Police, is the force’s Silver Commander for the Olympics and said: “The councils are responsible for organising the road closures but they will only be put in place where they are necessary.

“All the arrangements are now in place and we are all looking forward to the Olympic Torch arriving in the force area and the visit being enjoyable for everyone.”

The flame will arrive in Bicester on Monday afternoon before travelling to Oxford. Then on Tuesday morning it will travel to Abingdon and Wallingford.

Meanwhile, a special rendition of the national anthem is proving a hoot for British competitors at the Olympic Games. Bosses at Mini teamed up with the London Philharmonic Orchestra to record a version of God Save the Queen using the horns of the Cowley-built cars.