Volunteers desperate to share the best of London with Olympic visitors are being put through their their paces.

Two weeks of interviews for hopefuls wanting to win places as London Ambassadors are set to end next Friday.

About 700 applicants for the roles, which involve sharing information and advice with visitors during next year's Olympic games, are expected to have auditioned at Vestry Hall in Mitcham over the fortnight. David Shipp, a 35 year old gardener from Wimbledon, said he wanted to meet visitors and "make their experience of London even better".

Fellow applicant Rebecca Thomas, a 21 year old student from Wimbledon, said: "I love being here and being out and about."

The pair said that, if picked, they would be recommending their own top attractions and activities to visitors - including a boat ride down the Thames and a stroll near the cultural landmarks on the South Bank.

They tackled role plays, group activities and one-to-one interviews during the recruitment.

About 8,000 ambassadors will stationed at 38 locations across the capital, from airports and stations to Trafalgar Square and Canary Wharf - but not in the venues themselves - during the games.

Mr Shipp said he was looking forward to the arrival of the games next year. He said: "It's the opportunity to do something and do it well. We've already seen the venues are so impressive - they've really thought about the legacy of the games."

The event at the hall in London Road was organised by Mitcham-based charity Volunteer Centre Merton. VCM support worker Debby Brooker said: "People have been every enthusiastic - everybody is really up for showing off London."