Flaming brilliant!

Photo: Darren Robinson

PROUD Failsworth dad Gary Bentley is surrounded by wellwishers.

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Inspirational locals warmed hundreds of hearts as they became part of Olympic history yesterday.

Three community heroes from Oldham got to brandish the golden Olympic torch as the relay reached the North-West.

A sea of red, white and blue greeted the torchbearers as massive crowds took the streets of Bolton and Wigan during a day they will treasure forever.

The sheer support in Westhoughton, where 19-year-old Richard Howarth carried the flame, was almost too much for the blind teen from Greenfield.

Screams of jubilation and adoration came from the pavements as he pounded down the high street that was festooned with bunting and lit up with thousands of smiling faces.

The 300-metre jog was a pinnacle for the teenager, who, despite losing his sight aged 10, has battled on to achieve great academic success.

Afterwards he said: “The whole thing was overwhelming and surreal, the crowd was so loud. Carrying the flame was insanely amazing.

“Those memories will stay with me forever now, that’s the big thing for me.”

Grey clouds parted and the sun shone as Richard handed over to another Saddleworth hero, Moira Fields – who had been mobbed by eager spectators while she waited for Richard to arrive.

Moira (39) marched off grinning from ear to ear and lapping up her time to shine.

Earlier in the day, proud Failsworth dad Gary Bentley had been the first local to do the honours through Lowton in Wigan.

Gary (47) said: “It was unbelievable, I could not believe just how many people were there — I was like a little celebrity for a few minutes people were asking for photographs and everything.

“It was quite overwhelming.”



In just over three weeks, on Sunday, June 24, the iconic flame will arrive in the borough on Ashton Road at approximately 10.45am.

The flame will be carried along Rochdale Road, St Mary’s Way, High Street, Yorkshire Street and OIdham Way.


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