Glasgow 2014: Isle of Man welcomes Queen's Baton Relay

Members of the Manx Commonwealth Games team will carry the baton during its visit

The Queen's baton has arrived in the Isle of Man on its tour of Commonwealth nations and territories ahead of Glasgow 2014.

It will be carried by members of the largest ever Manx Commonwealth Games team throughout the day including Delhi bronze medallist Mark Christian.

The baton arrived by plane from Guernsey at 12:30 BST.

The Commonwealth Games is the highest level at which a Manx sportsman or woman can represent the Isle of Man.

A dozen Manx swimmers, gymnasts and cyclists will carry the baton on the Isle of Man leg of its nine-month journey.

The baton contains a message from the monarch which will be revealed at the opening ceremony on 23 July.

Chief Minister Allan Bell welcomed the Queen's baton to the Isle of Man at Ronaldsway

Pupils from the Buchan school were amongst the first to hold the baton on the island

President of Tynwald Clare Christian welcomed the baton at the Old House of Keys Castletown

The island's chief minister Allan Bell was at Ronaldsway for its arrival before it departed on a tour of several Manx landmarks.

The baton will be on the island for four days before continuing its journey to Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

After a visit to the Buchan primary school, it was taken to the battlements at Castle Rushen and the Old House of Keys in Castletown.

Next it travelled on the island's steam railway to Douglas, pulled by the Glasgow built locomotive Caledonia, where it appeared on the BBC's The One Show.

Hosted by Chris Evans and Alex Jones, The One Show was broadcast live from Douglas on Friday.

It has already toured the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey

'118,000-mile relay'

An Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association spokesman said the relay was an "integral part of the build-up to the Glasgow Games."

The Queen started the 118,000-mile relay at Buckingham Palace on 9 October 2013.

The relay tour of the Commonwealth has happened in some form since the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

Within the top of the baton are granite gemstones, with one given to each place it has visited as a memento of the relay.

After the Isle of Man it travels on to Northern Ireland, Wales and England before ending its journey with a 40-day tour of Scotland.

The baton travelled on a stream train from Douglas and visited the Laxey Wheel and TT Grandstand