THE greatest symbol of the Olympic games - the torch - is to arrive in a small North Yorkshire town onboard a steam train.

It has already been confirmed that the eponymous symbol of the Olympic Games will make its way to the London 2012 games stopping at Alnwick, Newcastle, Durham, Middlesbrough and York.

But today (Monday, November 7), the organisers of the Olympic torch relay have confirmed the flame will also stop in Pickering in Ryedale on Monday, June 18. It will arrive in the town via the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Sebastian Coe, chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, urged people in the district to begin planning how they will welcome the Olympic torchbearer.

“This is the UK’s moment to shine and I want to encourage people across Ryedale to start planning how they can be part of this once in a lifetime opportunity and show their support for the inspirational torchbearers chosen to carry the Olympic Flame as we count down to the start of the Olympic Games,” he said.

The 70-day Olympic Torch Relay will start at Land’s End, Cornwall on May 19 and will travel roughly 8,000 miles around the UK, taking in more than 1,000 villages, town and cities. A street-by-street detail of the route will be confirmed next year.

The aim is for 95 per cent of the population to be within an hour’s journey of the Olympic flame next summer. It will be carried by 8,000 torchbearers, each of who will have a story of personal achievement or contribution to their local community. Their names will be confirmed from February next year.

Councillor James Fraser, Champion for Sport for Ryedale District Council said he was delighted that Ryedale residents would be able to witness the Olympic torch relay.

“This will provide a chance for Ryedale residents to share in the Olympic spirit and mark the countdown to the start of the Games,” he said.

“I am sure it will inspire young people to get more actively involved in sports.”