Thousands cheer Olympic Torch relay through Ilkley (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Thousands cheer Olympic Torch relay through Ilkley

5:30pm Sunday 24th June 2012 in News By Jonathan Redhead, Ilkley/Otley Reporter

Thousands of spectators packed the streets in Ilkley as the torch made its way through a sun-drenched town centre today.

Crowds lined the streets up to 20 people deep in places all eager for a fleeting glimpse of the Olympic Flame.

And they were not disappointed as local woman, Margaret Cook, 74, carried the flame through the busiest section of town, at the Brook Street and Leeds Road junction to cheers from the well-wishers.

Mrs Cook completed her section of the relay at a gentle jog after collecting the flame alongside town crier Chris Richards. Mrs Cook, a former nurse, was all smiles as she took the flame along Leeds road to complete the Ilkley section of the torch’s 8,000 mile relay.