Thousands to watch Olympic Torch in Shropshire
Thousands of people will be taking to the streets of Shropshire today to get a glimpse of the Olympic Torch visiting the county for the second time.
The Torch will be carried by inspirational torchbearers through Oswestry, Pant, Llanymynech, Shrewsbury, Cressage, Much Wenlock, Benthall and Broseley, Ironbridge, Telford, and Newport as it makes its way from Greece to the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Cllr Kuldip Sahota, Telford & Wrekin council leader, said; "The London 2012 Torch Relay promises to be a fabulous event and a real chance for people to have their own Olympic experience here in the borough.
"I am sure we'll have bumper crowds in the town centre, Ironbridge and Newport to see the Torch.
"It's great that we have attractions in the town centre to help people make a real day of what should be a once in lifetime event and I encourage people to get here early, get a good spot and enjoy the fun."
Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council's Cabinet member responsible for active and healthy lifestyles, said: "Around 13,000 people watched the Torch as it was carried through Ludlow, Clee Hill and Cleobury Mortimer on its first visit to the county last week so we're expecting lots of people to line the route tomorrow and give the Olympic Torch a big Shropshire welcome.
"Just remember to arrive in plenty of time if you want to see the Torch!"
Shropshire Olympic Torch Relay Route
Click here to see the route the Olympic Torch will be taking in Shropshire and times.
Shrewsbury music and dance
After watching the Olympic Torch pass through Shrewsbury town centre, students from Shrewsbury Sixth Form College will be performing music and dance from 12.15pm - 1.30pm in The Square.
School children to welcome flame to Ironbridge
In Ironbridge, school children are expected to throng The Wharfage when the torch arrives at the Iron Bridge at 3.14pm. It will be greeted by a peal of bells from St Luke's Church and a performance by the Abraham Darby Academy Band, which will be situated at the entrance to the bridge. The Phoenix School Steel Band and school dance group will also be entertaining crowds further along The Wharfage.
Telford events welcome Olympic Torch
In Telford a range of activities before and after the Torch's visit to Telford will help make a truly memorable day. From 11am a team of professional artists will be in the town centre to help make wavers and banners for people to welcome the Torch into Telford in style, adding to those already made by schools and community groups.
Then from 1.45pm a dazzling display of street entertainers outside House of Fraser and Darby House will help whip the crowd up with an extraordinary display including stilt walkers, giant cricketers, morph-suited performers and Chinese dragons.
There will also be live music form the Lord Silkin School Steel Band and the Old Park School Samba Band, while the Free Radio roadshow will also be in the town centre.
Community celebration for Newport
In Newport, 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.
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.
Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Council Information
Information including parking and travel restrictions during the Olymmpic Torch Relay in Shropshire can be found at www.telford.gov.uk/london2012torch and www.shropshire.gov.uk/london2012.
An official map of street-by-street details and start times for the Olympic Flame can also be seen at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay.
BBC Shropshire Live Torch Relay Coverage
As the Olympic Torch Relay passes through Shropshire, coverage of its arrival and progress through the county will be on BBC Radio Shropshire.
Throughout the day listeners will be able to get the latest details on the relay with presenters and reporters located across the area.
You can also watch the Olympic Torch Relay pass through Shropshire live online.
