THE Queen’s Baton Relay is to visit the North-East over the summer as it makes its way to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games.

Details of the baton relay’s two-week journey across England have been announced today, including visits to Tyneside and Northumberland.

The relay will be in Newcastle and Gateshead on the morning of Friday, June 13, making several stops across the area, then in the afternoon will journey on to Alnwick Castle, in Northumberland.

Each event will feature a small number of batonbearers, specially chosen for their contribution to sport in the local community, to be announced over the next few months.

A baton, containing a message from the Queen to the Commonwealth to be read at the Opening Ceremony in Glasgow, has already visited 68 nations around the world.

The visit to the North-east is the relay’s final leg in England ahead of the start of the Games on July 23.

Gateshead Council leader Coun Mick Henry said: "The Queen’s Baton Relay is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate sport and sporting heroes in the local community.

"I’m delighted that we have been selected as a host and I’d encourage everyone to get behind Team England and show their support in the run up to, and during the Commonwealth Games 2014."