Horse-drawn boat brings Olympic torch to Shropshire

The last remaining horse-drawn boat in Shropshire will carry the Olympic torch into the county along Thomas Telford's Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, it was revealed today.

On May 30 the torch will be taken over the famous structure – a World Heritage Site – by Saturn, a 100-year-old Shropshire Union Fly boat which has been fully restored.

Saturn will carry the runner bearing the Torch along the Llangollen Canal at about 9.10am.

Director of the Shropshire Union Fly Boat Restoration Society, Valerie Reade, said it was a great honour.

She said: "Four years ago we got lottery funding of over £80,000 to restore the boat. We have been on television programmes before and we were the lead boat for the aqueduct's bicentenary celebrations but this is something very different.

"It is a big feather in our cap and will be great publicity. We are very excited.

"The crew members will be in traditional dress to make it a real occasion."

Mrs Reade said she understood an athlete would be carrying the flame, although no details have been confirmed.

The 70-day relay will start at Land's End on May 19 and will see the torch travel 8,000 miles around the UK before arriving at the Olympic Stadium on July 27 for the Opening Ceremony.

"Usually the boat is horse-drawn but this time it will be drawn across by two of our members because no horse can be found to want to go over the aqueduct," Mrs Reade added.

"We are not sure who it will be at the moment but we have a meeting in May when we will probably decide."

Vince Moran, British Waterways' operations director, said: "We are delighted the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Llangollen Canal World Heritage Site is to form part of the Olympic Torch Relay Route.

"It is great to see that such a unique part of the UK's heritage is set to be involved in such a momentous occasion.

"We now look forward to hearing more about the role this fantastic historic aqueduct will play in next year's Olympic proceedings."