VOLUNTEERS from South Cerney-based 29 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, have come to the fore with a valuable offer of help.

One of the main challenges for the organisers - Cotswold District Council and Cirencester Town Council - is allowing a smooth passage for the relay runners while ensuring spectators can enjoy the occasion to the full, and they have gratefully accepted an offer from 29 Regiment to make this possible by helping to supervise crowd control on the day.

Cllr Carole Topple, the CDC Cabinet lead for Housing and Communities, said: “We are extremely grateful to the Regiment for their support.

"We needed lots of volunteers to provide some ‘light touch’ marshalling during the torch relay event and I was delighted when I heard that they had agreed to help out.”

Mayor of Cirencester, Cllr Andrew Lichnowski, was also very pleased: “There was a real buzz in Cirencester when we heard it had been chosen to host one of the torch relay events and it is fitting that members of 29 Regiment, a great source of pride for the town, should be so prominent during the procession.”

Captain Matt Brown of 29 Regiment added: “We heard about the torch relay coming through the town and were very keen to be involved.

"It provides us with an opportunity to build further on the excellent relationship that we already share with the local community and promises to be a memorable occasion for everyone.”

CDC recently gave its formal backing to a draft county-wide Armed Forces Community Covenant. This is a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local armed forces.

The aim is to encourage local people and authorities to support the service community in their area, promoting understanding and awareness amongst the public about issues affecting the armed forces.

Cllr Topple concluded: “The joint working between the civilian community and local service personnel to safeguard the passage of the torch relay will be the first real opportunity for us to show our commitment to the new covenant, and this will undoubtedly pave the way for closer ties in the future.”