Clare Balding visits Shropshire Olympic mascots

BBC sports presenter Clare Balding was in Shropshire today to give a ringing endorsement to the official London 2012 mascots and toys designed and distributed by a firm based in Telford.

The broadcaster had just one word for the range of goods to come out of Golden Bear products - Wow!

Former jockey Clare was at the company in Hortonwood 40, Telford, this afternoon to officially launch the first of its range of Olympic products to add to mascots Wenlock and Mandeville.

The two figures, unveiled by Golden Bear earlier this year, have now been joined by a host of soft and plastic toys and gift products, all of which are manufactured in China.

Clare said: "I had seen Wenlock and Mandeville before and was really pleased to see William Penny-Brooks celebrated in the form of Wenlock and his Much Wenlock roots. These toys help us all to feel part of London 2012. We can't all compete; we can't all commentate on them but at least we can feel part of it if we buy a toy."

Clare was joined at the launch by Golden Bear products chairman John Hales and former 5,000 metres world record holder David Moorcroft, chairman of the West Midlands Leadership Group for the 2012 games.

The products follow the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games' Decision to make Golden Bear its Master Toy Licensee for merchandising.