IT LASHED down with rain, but nothing could spoil their special day!

Hundreds of well-wishers lined the streets of Bury to watch as a group of determined people, young and old, carried the Queen's Jubilee Baton on its journey to the Commonwealth Games.

For some, the route was taken at a jog, some walked and others made their way along in wheelchairs but all bore a wide smile, proud to be a part of the UK's biggest sporting event.

First to take up the flashing baton on Peel Way was Bury's Deisie Pilling, described as a "truly remarkable woman" who developed Multiple Sclerosis in her 30s.

A catalogue of events failed to dampen her spirits, including her daughter developing a brain tumour at the age of four and her husband suffering a heart attack.

Mrs Pilling still managed to find time to work for the MS Society and obtain a GCSE in English.

She passed on the baton to 14-year-old David Naylor, of The Heys, Prestwich, who was thrilled to be selected for the Angouleme Way section of the course.

David, who is a pupil at Philips High School in Whitefield, is a keen sports fan and loves to take part in activities despite suffering from a serious illness since the age of two.

The youngster was diagnosed with kidney problems as a toddler and at the age of three, David's parents Chris and Yvonne were told he had a brain tumour.

Chris said: "It was not cancerous but the tumour returned when David was seven. He had an operation and is on medication all the time now. He loves sport but has a problem with his adrenaline and cannot do much."

He was nominated for the relay by his grandmother, Yvonne Keenan, and other family and friends.

Chris said: "David wanted to volunteer for the Games but he was a bit too young. When the letter came about the relay we thought they had changed their mind. When we realised what it was we were delighted and told him to go for it!"

The symbol of the Games was then passed to Paul Carter, youngster Kirstie Louise Welch, Gary Morton, Michael Fleming and Frank Hannah along the two-mile route which went down Rochdale Road towards Heap Bridge before crossing the Heywood border.

A spokesman for the Queen's Jubilee Baton Relay said: "It was a fantastic section of the route. We received a great welcome from the people of Bury and the participants really enjoyed themselves."