Here’s the famous Iron Bridge as you’ve never seen it before . . . Shropshire’s iconic landmark formed part of a spectacular sound and light extravaganza last night as the county took centre stage at the launch of the nation’s Cultural Olympiad.

More than 1,200 people turned out as dusk fell in the Ironbridge Gorge last night to celebrate the county’s involvement in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics.

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The Museum of Iron at Coalbrookdale, and Bedlam Furnaces, were also brought to life by the amazing multi-coloured lightshow, and families were treated to four hours of live music and dance.

Jo Hammond, a spokesman for the organisers, said today: “It was an amazing event – we were very lucky with the weather. Many of the most famous buildings in the Ironbridge Gorge were lit up, we had a full programme of music and dancing on a big stage, and it all ended with a truly spectacular firework display.

“For anyone who missed the lightshow last night, it will be repeated again this evening.”

The Cultural Olympiad Open Weekend is a nationwide festival of more than 500 cultural events to celebrate the beginning of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Many other Shropshire sites are involved, including Attingham Park, Shrewsbury’s Old Market Hall and Aqualate estate near Newport.

Beijing cycling gold-medallist Paul Manning was among the star guests at last night’s launch. There was also music from MOBO-award-winning artist Soweto Kinch.

More than 100 young dancers from across the region also performed and there was music from Orchestra of the Swan, Black Voices and Bombay Baja Brass Band.

Paul Kaynes, the West Midlands Creative Programmer for 2012′s Olympiad, said: “Shropshire is at the heart of what we are doing.

“The modern day Olympics were the brainchild of Dr William Penney Brookes, from Much Wenlock, so there is a lot to celebrate. Last night’s event in Ironbridge kick-started the West Midlands’ programme in style.”

Steve Miller, chief executive of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, added that he was delighted to host last night’s extravaganza.

He said: “For hundreds of years the Ironbridge Gorge has been the home of great innovators such as Abraham Darby and many creative men and women, such as ceramic artists at Coalport China Works and the skilled craftsmen and women of the Coalbrookdale Company.

“Today the Ironbridge Gorge Museums keep alive this rich culture of creativity by not only preserving the historic workplaces and the treasures that were once made in them, but also the remarkable skills of the artisans that made the magnificent objects that were exported across the world.”

Nick Paul, Chairman of Advantage West Midlands, added: “The history of the West Midlands is rich in inspiration, ingenuity and invention and the region continues to thrive.

“This is a prosperous, diverse region with a fantastic cultural offer and we are delighted to support the Cultural Olympiad programme which will show national and international audiences what a first class place it is to live, study, work and visit.”