A TOTAL of 30,000 workers will help build the Olympic Park over the next few years, it has been announced - but how many opportunities there will be for Waltham Forest residents remains to be seen.

Today marks the halfway point between London winning the bid to host the 2012 games and the opening ceremony.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has released new figures showing that up to 30,000 people will help build the Olympic Park and the Olympic village.

Thousands of people will be recruited to work as bricklayers, wood workers, steel fixers, electricians, security guards, engineers, plumbers, scaffolders, concretors and machine operators.

Olympic minister Tessa Jowell said: "What today's announcement shows is that London 2012 is a key part of the Government's economic recovery plan, providing jobs, training and billions of pounds worth of contracts for UK firms."

But the announcement is unlikely to allay fears that local people won't benefit from the job opportunities.

In October Cllr Terry Wheeler, the council's cabinet member for investment, revealed that just seven of 500 Olympic contracts awarded have gone to companies based in Waltham Forest.

Cllr Wheeler said that it is up to local businesses to "get on their bicycles" and try to win contracts.

The ODA has set up an online service called Compete For, which allows firms to bid for Olympic contracts online.