A HUDDERSFIELD woman carried the Olympic Flame through the streets of London and enjoyed it despite the protests.

Karla Wordsworth, 27, who lives at Birkby, was the seventh torchbearer out of 80 along a 31-mile route from Wembley Stadium to the O2 Arena at North Greenwich.

The event was hit by thousands of protesters, who grabbed their chance to disrupt the high-profile event to throw the spotlight on China’s human rights abuses.

Karla said: “It was a fantastic experience, despite all the protests. It was absolutely amazing and I was very honoured to carry the Olympic Flame.”

Karla, a business manager with web-based computer seller Laptops Direct, of Deighton, was nominated to take part by personal computer makers Lenovo to mark her efforts to boost sales of their laptops.

Lenovo is an Olympic sponsor and one of the firms backing the Torch Relay.

The company’s other torchbearers included record-breaking yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur.

Karla carried the flame on a 200-metre stretch from Ladbroke Grove to Holland Park Avenue, flanked by security men and police.

She met Dame Ellen and other sports stars and celebrities, including badminton player Gail Emms, tennis player Tim Henman and Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq.

Karla and her partner, Callum Mitchell, were treated to an all-expenses-paid trip to London for the weekend, staying at the luxury Charing Cross Hotel and enjoying a concert.

Karla grew up in Cowcliffe and went to Rastrick High School before studying graphic design at Dewsbury College.

She joined Laptops Direct, of Trident Business Park, Leeds Road, four years ago after working as a buyer for another Huddersfield company.

Mark Kelly, marketing executive for Laptops Direct, said: “We’re amazingly proud to have had one of our team in London representing both Laptops Direct and Huddersfield.

“We were worried when we heard and saw the disruptions in the news, but thankfully Karla is back at work safe and sound.”

Lenovo, which has factories in China, Japan and the USA, became the first Chinese company to join the Olympic partner programme in 2004. It was also a sponsor of the 2006 Winter Olympics, supplying thousands of computers for officials and participants.