THE Olympic Flame will begin its historic journey through our region on Monday when it steams into Pickering from Whitby by train on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

The torch is expected to arrive in Ryedale at 11.44am, before being taken through the streets of Pickering by a relay of five runners.

From there it will make its way by convoy to Scarborough where its journey through the town will begin at 12.30pm in Columbus Ravine and then along Marine Drive.

A short stop in Filey at 2.30pm will be followed by a journey to Bridlington in East Yorkshire where the torch will be taken through the town, starting at 3pm in Scarborough Road.

Coun James Fraser, chair of the 2012 Torch Relay Ryedale Community Task Force, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in welcoming the flame to our district.

“So many people have worked hard to try and ensure that this once-in-a-lifetime event is one that everyone can enjoy. I am sure that it will be a fantastic event.”

The torch will then spend the evening in Hull before arriving in Goole, where it will set out at 8.30am.

It arrives at Camblesforth at 9am and will be in Selby at 9.15am, where it will begin its route through the town from Bawtry Road.

From Selby the flame will go to Monk Fryston at 10.15am, Barkston Ash at around 10.40am and Tadcaster at 10.55am.

It then moves on to York, where it will spend the night.

On Wednesday June 20, the torch will board the Scots Guardsman at York and travel on the steam train to Thirsk. It will then continue through Northallerton, Aiskew, Bedale, Leyburn and Richmond.

The torch then leaves the region for a couple of days before returning on Sunday, June 24 for its second leg which takes in West and South Yorkshire.

On June 27 the Olympic torch leaves Yorkshire and the Humber to continue its journey south to the Olympic stadium, arriving in London on y for the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games.