‘How I went unchallenged through two checkpoints’

A teacher told today how he managed to slip through security checkpoints and enter the Olympic Park.

He spoke as hundreds of troops began moving on to the Stratford site to bolster beleaguered G4S’s security.

The secondary school geography teacher, who declined to be named, said he cycled through two security areas last Thursday before he was stopped at a third gate.

He said he was unaware he had infiltrated any security operation, even though his breach came as Mayor Boris Johnson was officially opening the athletes’ village.

The teacher, who lives close to the Olympic complex, said: “When one security guard told me off for getting into the park without permission I was aghast. I simply advised him to have a word with the officials who let me cycle through two gates without stopping me or checking me out. I cycle around the canal and 0lympic Park regularly and used to put my little daughter on the back of the bike.

“Cycling along Green Walk was a regular think for us, until it was closed a few weeks ago. I was in the area and without even thinking pedalled through what were supposed to be checkpoints

“On the day I got in, it didn’t even occur to me that I should stop at security points, as nobody seemed bothered about me. I got close to the stadium and it is just fortunate that I did not have any sinister intention.

“I’ve read about the cock-ups surrounding security and how more money needs to be spent, and that soldiers are being called upon and that doesn’t surprise me. We cannot afford to give terrorists the merest chance of doing something terrible.

“There will be royalty and heads of state at the Olympics, and athletes and spectators. Everything has to be absolutely watertight. I have proved that there are still problems.”