THE Women’s Institute centenary baton – which has been relayed to all WIs in the UK – arrived in Dursley and Cam over the weekend.

After months of preparation the baton reached the area on Saturday evening after members of Kingswood Abbey WI walked to the centre of the Severn Bridge to meet members of Woollaston WI and Tutshill WI where the baton was handed over.

The following morning the baton was brought from Kingswood to Cam Village WI by vintage motor bike.

Members of Cam Village, many wearing period costume, walked up Cam Pitch and along Kingshill Road to Rednock School for another handover, this time to Castlegate WI.

Clad in WI's trademark green, their members continued down to Parsonage Street where they were welcomed by Dursley WI, again in period costume but this time from the 30's to celebrate their 85th birthday this year.

Mayor of Dursley Jane Ball joined in the handover to Dursley members before they walked down to the Heritage Centre with the baton.

In pride of place was a restored Pedersen bicycle loaned to Dursley WI by Brian Owen from Thornbury.

Andy Barton, who had opened the Heritage Centre especially for the occasion, then joined the group with another of the famous bikes for a short stroll down Long Street to Pederson's House for some photos.

Dursley WI President Liz Croker hopped into a vintage MG chauffeured by Clem Dury, who drove her up to Coaley Peak where members of Coaley Vale Group of WI's were waiting to carry the baton on further around the Stroud valleys.