Jonathan Edwards new Wenlock Olympian Society president

Jonathan Edwards has been vice president of the society for the last two years

Former Olympic gold medallist Jonathan Edwards has been named the president of Shropshire's Wenlock Olympian Society.

The society was founded in Much Wenlock in 1850 by Dr William Penny Brookes and is widely thought to have inspired the modern Olympic movement.

Mr Edwards, 45, launched the London 2012 mascot Wenlock in the Shropshire market town in March 2010.

The triple jump world record holder has also been the vice president of the society for the last two years.

He takes over the presidency from Roy Rogers, a former Olympic and Commonwealth Games official, who died in April.

Mr Rogers' career included officiating at Sir Roger Bannister's sub-four-minute mile in 1954.

He went on to be an official at the Barcelona Olympics and Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Auckland and Manchester.

Mr Edwards won gold at the Sydney Games in 2000 and has held the world record in the triple jump since 1995.

He is also a member of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (Locog) and has worked as a commentator and TV presenter.