THE QUEEN’S Baton will reach East Ayrshire towns in June - but who will be carrying it remains a mystery.

The baton’s global epic journey reaches home soil on Saturday June 14, commencing a mammoth trek around 400 communities across Scotland offering thousands of people the opportunity to be part of the excitement, celebrations and countdown to Scotland’s biggest ever sporting and cultural festival, the XX Commonwealth Games.

It will arrive on East Ayrshire soil on Saturday June 21, visiting towns and villages from Dalmellington to Kilmarnock.

To reflect the important role of sport and legacy the baton will be visiting community events, leisure centres and key places of interest.

On the day there will exciting events for members of the community to attend, including a Big Breakfast in Dalmellington and a Commonwealth Carnival in Kilmarnock which will be led by the Council in partnership with East Ayrshire Leisure and local communities.

This builds on East Ayrshire Council’s Legacy Plan, started in 2008, which has seen the creation of the multi-million Ayrshire Athletics Arena, 90 local talented sports people being supported through the Talented Athlete Support Programme and more people encouraged to volunteer, get involved and help create a lasting legacy.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council said: “The route announcement by Glasgow 2014 is an exciting step towards what will be an incredible day for East Ayrshire.

“The baton will travel over 190,000km through 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth before arriving at the opening ceremony of the Games on Wednesday July 23.

“The baton will be carried by local heroes who have been nominated by members of the public. On Monday 31 March, the successful baton bearers will be contacted by Glasgow 2014 and I can’t wait to see who will be carrying the baton through our area.” Exact details of the route and timings will not be revealed until six weeks before the event.

However East Ayrshire Council can confirm that the baton will visit the following locations: • Dalmellington • New Cumnock • Cumnock • Auchinleck • Mauchline • Galston • Stewarton • Crosshouse – including Crosshouse Hospital • Kilmarnock It promises to be a memorable day for East Ayrshire and full details of events taking place along the route will be released closer to the time.

The Queen’s Baton Relay has been planned by Glasgow 2014 in partnership with Commonwealth Games Scotland and all 32 Scottish local authorities.