The London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony should make everyone feel like it is "the people's Games", artistic director Danny Boyle has said.

He is hoping that everyone, both inside east London's 80,000-seater showpiece Olympic Stadium and the worldwide audience of billions, will get a sense of intimacy and humanity.

It is also set to reflect the British sense of humour and be a bit of fun.

With six months to go to the spectacular opening, he said: "We would be very honoured if we are compared very favourably to Sydney (the 2000 Games) and this was another people's Games."

The sound of an enormous bell, set to be the biggest ringing bell in Europe, has been commissioned from a foundry in Whitechapel, east London, to kick off the proceedings.

Boyle has picked the title Isles of Wonder for his work on the ceremony, setting a target for himself to try to celebrate the best of British while representing all the regions.

There is a special sequence, using nurses to celebrate the NHS, that he feels is quite special. Up to 900 children, aged seven to 13, from the local Olympic host boroughs are also set for a starring role in the London 2012 ceremonies.

Pointing out that, for the children, it will be the stuff that memories are made of, Boyle added that it would "make an indelible mark" on them about how unique this Olympic event is expected to be.