Olympic torch arrives in Dudley - with video (From Dudley News)

Olympic torch arrives in Dudley - with video

8:49pm Saturday 30th June 2012 in Local

THOUSANDS of people lined the streets as the Olympic Torch finally arrived in Dudley this afternoon.

Arriving in the town slightly earlier than expected, at around 4.15pm, the iconic flame was carried through the borough by 11 torchbearers, who heralded from around the world.

The flame entered the borough at the junction of Birmingham New Road and Shaw Road and passed Silver Jubilee Park, where a family fun day was being held. Travelling down Birmingham New Road, which was lined with flag waving spectators, the torch, carried at this point by Dudley College student, Ross Ensor, turned into Dudley Canal Trust and was carried onto 100 year-old steam powered narrow boat, President.

Loud cheers erupted at the Black Country Living Museum as visitors, many of them dressed in period clothing, heard President’s horn blow as she transported the flame into the museum, before 75 year-old army veteran Dennis Sanders, from Birmingham, made the journey through the museum’s cobbled streets which was decorated with colourful bunting.

The flame was then passed to Kate Macfarlane, who held the torch high on top of the museum’s tram, which had been decked out in red, white and blue ribbons for the occasion.

The tram travelled to the war memorial at the top of the site, where following a short break, torchbearers Rose Porter and Rebecca Port carried the flame out of the Black Country Living Museum and along Tipton Road.

Cheering crowds lined both sides of the street and were up to five deep in places, as young and old strained to get a look as the convoy made its way out of the Dudley Borough.

Speaking following the event, Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Melvyn Mottram, said: “I am really honoured to have been present today. What a wonderful once in a lifetime event it has been. “I am extremely proud of the people of Dudley who turned out in their thousands to welcome the flame and I am sorry for those that missed it.”

Watch video footage from the Black Country Living Museum below

Watch the first part of the Torch Relay parade depart Tipton Road below