THE Queen’s Baton Relay visited Llanidloes last week ahead of next year’s Commonwealth Games in Australia.

The baton visited the town, along with Llandinam and Rhayader, on Thursday, 7 September, as part of a four-day tour of Wales.

After starting in Brecon in the early morning, the relay stopped in Rhayader between 10.50am and 11.50am where the baton took part “in a colourful and energetic street procession” involving around 300 children from local schools in themed dress, all linked to the Commonwealth Games or local area.

The baton then stopped off at Llanidloes High School and Primary School between 12.10pm and 1.10pm, welcomed with a trumpet fanfare and joint choir from the schools.

The welcome was followed by celebrations on the primary school grounds where pupils formed the shape of a map of Wales.

The baton was symbolically taken around the map before departing for its next location.

It then arrived in Llandinam for a brief stop off between 1.20pm and 1.30pm at the David Davies statue to coincide with Visit Wales’ Year of Legends campaign.

The bearers in Llanidloes were Callum Francis Jones, Enya Jones, Olivia Dillon, Ffion Davies, Lauren Williams, Jan Powell, Willow Weedal and Jaiden Davies.

See this week’s Machynlleth & Llanidloes edition for the full story, in shops and online tomorrow