Newport to welcome Olympic torch with afternoon of events

The town’s High St will be transformed for the afternoon into a community celebration involving more than 1,600 school children and hundreds of others eager to welcome the Olympic flame and its inspirational torch bearers.

Roads on the main torch route will be closed from1pm to allow the afternoon’s celebrations, organised by Newport Town Council, to warm up the huge crowd before the Torch relay’s Newport leg begins at 4.06pm adjacent to Moorfields School, moving along Wellington Road and into High St and Stafford St.

From 2.30pm, there will be cycling and running relay races and displays, some involving children from local schools, while a number of other town sports clubs will be setting up displays in the High Street area.

The Loyal Newport Volunteers, one of only two private armies in the country still in existence, will be on hand to provide some extra colour and welcome a civic group including the High Sherriff of Shropshire, European Gold medallist 68 year old triathlete Hilary Stevenson and relatives of Newport’s 1968 Olympic Gold medallist, Ben Jones There will also be a hog roast in the town centre.

The torch will make its way through the town, leaving Newport at 4.24pm near the Old Quarry and Hampton Drive on its way to Stafford.

Cllr Tony Forrester, Mayor of Newport, said: “It promises to be a fantastic day for everyone in Newport, a chance to really put our town on the map and give the Torch relay the warmest possible and most memorable welcome.

“It’s great that the community have come together and put on so many activities that will make this a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for everyone in the town and huge amount of fun.

“I am sure that people will understand that there will be a little disruption but the day is a great opportunity for the whole town.”

More details on the London 2012 Torch Relay and its route through Newport are at www.telford.gov.uk/london2012torch.