A student from Burley-in-Wharfedale will undertake the most high profile summer job of her life today - as a steward for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Alex McIntosh is hoping to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience when she looks after the crowd for the famous athletic competition's flamboyant opening ceremony.

A landscape planning undergraduate at Manchester University, the 22-year-old applied for the role after getting caught up in the hype which has enveloped the city in the run-up to one of the UK's biggest ever sporting events.

Alex gave her delighted parents, Gillian and Angus, a special preview of the sold-out event on Tuesday when she took them to the dress rehearsal. But now she can't wait to experience the real thing.

She said: "They had been advertising for stewards for a while in Manchester and the Games have been getting so much publicity, so I thought it would be good to be a part of it.

"I've been on three training sessions and my job will be working in the stadium, looking after the spectators and making sure they know where to go and have a good time.

"I'll be one of hundreds of stewards because as well as the stadium there are other events like swimming, wrestling, and squash at different venues around the city.

"I went back to Manchester a few weeks ago and all the banners are hanging over the roads advertising the Games and everyone's talking about it, so I'm really looking forward to it now."

Currently earning some money at Ilkley Moor Garden Centre in Burley Woodhead, Alex's only reward for her Commonwealth efforts will be to keep her official uniform after the event ends on August 4.

Included in the specially branded kit is an umbrella which she hopes not to have to use between now and the competition's conclusion.

She said: "I've been given a good uniform, really colourful, and they are calling the brolly a 'sun parasol', which I think is being a bit optimistic!

"It's a volunteer role and I'm not being paid but I'm completely happy with that, because being able to take my parents along to the dress rehearsal was really nice, and the whole thing is something I'm going to remember."