SOCCER legend Sir Bobby Charlton joined Price Edward in unveiling the Queen's Jubilee Baton Relay route throughout the UK.

The baton will pass through Bolton, Westhoughton and Bury on July 23 -- just two days before it is presented at the Commonwealth Games stadium in Manchester for the event's opening ceremony.

Millions of spectators will line the streets to watch as the baton is passed from village to town to city.

It will herald the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games and celebrate the Queen's 50-year reign.

Prince Edward, who is president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said the national relay would pass within a one-hour drive of 95 per cent of the UK population.

The relay -- the Commonwealth Games equivalent of the Olympic torch relay -- will pass through 500 towns, cover more than 5,000 miles, travel for 50 days, involve 5,000 relay runners and give more than 50 million people the opportunity to get involved.

Along the way, it will visit many of the UK's most famous sporting arenas, including Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, the TT Races on the Isle of Man, Twickenham rugby stadium, Ascot Racecourse, Anfield and Goodison Park in Liverpool, and Old Trafford Football Stadium, home of Manchester United.

Charles Allen, chairman of Manchester 2002, said: "The relay will unite the royal Golden Jubilee and the Commonwealth Games in a massive street party, celebrating the diversity of the UK and the British Isles."

A runner will first take the hi-tech baton on June 6. It weighs 1.69 kilograms and contains a pulsing light which synchronises with the runner's heart.

It also incorporates a satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS) to pinpoint progress on the Commonwealth Games website.

Inside the baton will be the Queen's opening address to the Games which will open on July 25.

The route was unveiled yesterday afternoon at London's St James's Palace with Sir Bobby, Prince Edward and Sir Geoff Hurst joined by middle distance running legend Sir Roger Bannister, Commonwealth gold and Olympic silver 400-metre medallist Roger Black and former world champion boxer Barry McGuigan.

As well as using runners, the relay will also travel by canal boat, ferry, tram, steam train, horse and carriage, black cab and double-decker bus.

The search is on for unsung local heroes to take part. Runners do not have to be athletic and can be disabled. Nomination forms and information can be found at the website: www.commonwealthgames.com or by calling 0870 609 2002. LEGEND AT LAUNCH: Sir Bobby Charlton