London 2012: Shropshire Olympic torch route means two visits to county

The Olympic torch will pass through Shropshire twice on its way to the opening ceremony of the 2012 Games.

The torch's first visit is on Thursday, 24 May on its way to Worcester.

On Wednesday, 30 May the torch will again be in Shropshire, en route from Wrexham to Stoke-on-Trent.

Councillor Steve Charmley, from Shropshire Council, said: "This will help showcase our county to the world, especially as Much Wenlock has such a connection to the modern Olympics."

The route for 24 May will see the torch passing through Ludlow, Clee Hill and Cleobury Mortimer.

Olympic mascot

The torch will be carried past the Iron Bridge

On 30 May runners will carry the flame through Oswestry, Pant, Llanymynech, Shrewsbury, Cressage, Much Wenlock, Benthall, Broseley, Ironbridge, Telford and Newport.

Much Wenlock is widely credited as the birthplace of the modern Olympic movement, after games were established by Dr William Penny Brookes in 1850.

A visit by Baron Pierre De Coubertin convinced the Frenchman to establish the modern Olympics in 1896.

Much Wenlock's mayor Lesley Durbin said the whole town was thrilled that the Olympic torch would pass through the town.

"We've been looking forward to this and campaigning for it for a long time," she said.

"And to be honest it was inconceivable to us that the torch should not come here."

The town's role has recently been recognised with one of the two 2012 Olympic Games mascots being named Wenlock.