A NON-stop relay around the whole of the British Isles in 100 days passed through West Somerset last Thursday.

The Island Race aims to raise £3 million for five charities and it involves people representing all walks of life.

Runners, walkers, swimmers, people in wheelchairs and even toddlers are carrying and passing a baton right round the coastline from and to Gordonstoun School, in Scotland.

The Island Race was launched by the Princess Royal on May 11 when she handed the baton to Sebastian Coe who ran with it from Buckingham Palace to Wellington Barracks.

The race has been divided into 100 sections of 45 miles each, and last week it went through Lynmouth to Porlock Weir, Minehead harbour and Watchet before continuing towards the Quantocks and Bridgwater.

John Seymour, Bill Wallace and Phil Bourne led local runners into Porlock where John Lethaby and Gerald Winzer headed the leg to Minehead via Selworthy Beacon.

Pictured on the left is police officer Pete Mainstone who carried the baton from Minehead where the runners were met by West Somerset District Council chairman Viv Brewer.

A mile before the change-over at Watchet, the relay was joined by town councillor Tony Bowden, pictured on the right with Island Race Trustees chairman Richard Haldane in the centre.

Every section of the British Isles will be covered in the relay, including the farthest outreaches of the Scottish coastline by using ferries, RNLI boats and swimmers.

And on August 14, five days before it ends, the relay will pass by the Castle of Mey where a replica of the baton will be presented to the Queen Mother on her 100th birthday.

Photo: Steve Guscott.