The Queen's Baton Relay for the 2022 Commonwealth Games passed through Blackburn and Darwen today, carried by seven lucky baton bearers from across East Lancashire.

The borough's relay line-up was split in to three sections – civic, community and celebration – and residents were invited to cheer the Baton as it passed through Blackburn and on to Darwen.

The Baton, which is on its way to Birmingham to signal the start of the Commonwealth Games - the largest sporting event in the country for a decade - first arrived at Corporation Park at 4.09pm, before being carried by Debashis Battacharya from Burnley, and then handed over to Laura Nuttall from Nelson.

Gemma Lee from Blackburn took the baton from Laura a little further down Preston New Road, before passing it to Christopher Tattersall from Clitheroe who took the reins at King William Street.

The baton was then carried to Ewood Park for 4.36pm where Rebecca Rich from Preston continued with the relay to Duckworth Street in Darwen where it was handed to the town's Carrie Byrom just after 5pm.

Finally, Thomas Lewis, from Darwen took the baton at 5.05pm on Market Street before it headed off to Bolton for the next leg of its journey. 

The civic part of the relay saw the Baton officially welcomed by dignitaries, including the Deputy Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and the borough’s Mayor, on the steps of Blackburn Town Hall just after 4pm.

Deputy Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Cllr Quesir Mahmood said: "We’re really humbled that Blackburn with Darwen has been chosen to feature as part of the relay and I want to thank you for joining us – we’re all a small part of history.

"Of course, the Baton’s final stop on its tour will be Birmingham where its arrival will signal the start of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

"They’ll start on July 28 and run until August 8 – be sure to tune in and cheer the athletes on.

"For me, I hope this visit and the Games will help inspire new sporting stars – young and old - across Blackburn with Darwen.

"Each Baton Bearer been carefully selected for their achievements – whether that be sporting or community and I’d like to congratulate them all – what an honour to be invited to carry the Baton."

For the community part, Blackburn Rovers Community Trust hosted sporting community groups to welcome the Baton at Ewood Park just after 4.30pm.

And finally, for the celebration section, from 5pm, Baton bearers relayed the torch from opposite Lidl in Darwen up to the Market Square where a celebration was already underway with live music and sporting activities.

Until 6pm in Darwen, there’ll be live music and the chance to try different sports with a BMX ramp, acrobatic gymnastics and even a strength challenge with Blackburn with Darwen's own leisure staff.

This is the 16th Queen's Baton Relay - a tradition that celebrates, connects and excites communities in the build up to the Commonwealth Games.

During the tour, the Baton visits all 72 Commonwealth nations and territories across Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean and the Americas.

The Blackburn with Darwen visit is part of the final leg of the Batons 294-day journey right across the Commonwealth, and inside the Baton is a message from the Queen.

Ewood Park – home to Blackburn Rovers – is one of the only football stadiums in the country to be receiving the Baton.

A full picture and video gallery, with more about the Baton Bearers and borough celebrations will be published on our website tomorrow.