It cost nearly £12,000 to host the Olympic torch parade as the flame passed through Mitcham, Colliers Wood and Wimbledon on the eve of the London 2012 Games.

Figures released by Merton Council under Freedom of Information laws showed  road closures were the biggest cost as Sue Barker, Lisa Snowdon, Andy Murray, and Venus Williams carried the torch in July 2012.

The total was £11,786.10, of which £6,846.26 was spent on road closures and  £3,842.97 was spent on four council community events held along the route.

Another £385 was spent on sundry items, £360 on first aid and £351.87 for extra staff, but did not include details for how many permanent staff were used to plan or carry out the event on the day.

Hundreds of thousands of people turned out to see the torch as it snaked through the borough.

The council earned no income from the event, run by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (Locog).

Locog famously banned football mascot Haydon the Womble from carrying the torch because he wore an AFC Wimbledon kit instead of the Locog uniform.

The council confirmed the money had been set aside in last year’s budget for the event.

Leader of Merton Council Councillor Stephen Alamabritis said: “The Olympic Torch Relay was a huge success with thousands of residents lining the streets to see it go past.

"Having the Olympic Torch run through Merton was a once in a lifetime event that will stay with everyone who experienced it for the rest of their lives.”