Two performers from Watford are gearing up to take part in the Olympic Games closing ceremony.

Karen Bell and Alar Arge met at their first performance rehearsals for the games and have remained firm friends ever since.

They are looking forward to acting, dancing and singing together in the London 2012 closing ceremony on August 12.

Actress Karen, who lives in Biddenham Turn, Garston, said she was shocked at being selected because she performed at her audition in a wheelchair against all the odds.

She said: "It was amazing that I was picked considering the circumstances.

"I was in a wheelchair and had lost feeling from the waist down following years of back problems.

"I don’t know how I did it but I managed to do my second audition on crutches.

"However, I was not going to let it stand in my way."

"Being involved in the closing ceremony is phenomenal. A once in a life time experience."

By December Karen was able to perform again and was fighting fit for the rehearsals that began in May.

The volunteers have been rehearsing flat out for the last three months and now rehearse three times a week, as the ceremony draws closer.

Alar, 26, who lives in Watford, said he was very excited to be performing in the closing ceremony.

He entered the auditions with a background of dancing at home in Estonia.

The dancer said: "In the first round I missed out and heard about the auditions appealing for male dancers again on the news.

"I decided to go along and was thankfully lucky this time.

"Rehearsals have been very intense and we have learnt a lot along the way.

"Me and Karen just clicked from the very first day and we have gone along and experienced everything together."