Olympic volunteers are being urged to make the most of their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, although helping out at the Games is likely to leave people out of pocket.

And those helping out during the games in the summer are clubbing together to help each other sort out travel and living arrangements.

Simon Smith, of Mill Park Drive, Braintree, has been selected to be a Games Maker for the 2012 Games.

He will work as a transport volunteer and drive one of the BMW vehicles specifically designed by the manufacturers for the Olympics.

Full story in this week's Times.