IT HAS already been in Malaysia and Musselburgh, and now Motherwell has had its turn.

To the ear-splitting roar of 950 North Lanarkshire primary school children, the Queen's Baton romped into the main hall of the cavernous Ravenscraig Regional Sports Centre, held aloft in the firm grip of Newarthill boxer Charles Flynn. In the dimly-lit hall, it glowed as brightly as the pride he clearly felt. "To think of all the nations this baton's been in before it came here is amazing, and makes you feel you're part of one big family," said Mr Flynn.

The 20-year-old, part of the Commonwealth Games Boxing Squad, was piped into the building by the North Lanarkshire Schools pipe band. A pre-baton display compered by Steve McKenna, of Heart Radio, included breathtaking bar and floor demonstrations by 19-year- old Team Scotland gymnast Amy Regan, and by eight-year-old Millie McConville and nine-year-old Taylor Richardson of the Scottish regional advanced gymnastics squad. The Rock Choir helped pump up the energy, so that by the time the baton made its appearance on stage the atmosphere was electric.

The enthusiastic reception of the Queen's Baton at Ravenscraig was a massive strategic success, made all the more significant by the area's beleaguered history: the sports complex occupies part of the site of the former largest steelworks in Europe, whose controversial closure in 1992 signalled the end of large-scale steel making in Scotland.

Preparations for yesterday's event had been months in the planning.

"It's all about leaving a legacy, about building for the future," said senior sports development officer Dougie Holmes. "The Commonwealth Games is a once-in-a-generation opportunity and our aim was to get as many children as possible to see the baton and take part. The positive attitude achieved has been sensational. The Games has been the catalyst, but the physical embodiment of all our aspirations is the baton."

Earlier in the day, the baton had started its journey through the sprawling towns and villages of North Lanarkshire, accompanied by a large escort of Police Scotland personnel and broadcast media. They travelled in convoy all the way from Stepps, ending with a triathlon around Strathclyde Loch. Sensing the party atmosphere, people leaned out of windows or watched from balconies as they passed by, and dogs were literally barking in the street.

First stop was the AG Barr plant in Cumbernauld. Hundreds of staff and well-wishers thronged the famous Irn-Bru soft drinks factory, where baton bearer Val Gibson and her colleagues had been given time off to take part.

Mrs Gibson, an accountant, said the 1.6kg baton was "really heavy" but that the burden was eased by the fact that they were allowed to change hands while carrying it for their allocated 200 metres. "It was a surreal experience to handle the one and only baton in the world," she said. Baton carriers had been nominated because of the charitable works they did outwith the office.

In Airdrie, the mother, aunt and uncle of baton bearer Laura Miller, 31, were waiting in anticipation for her appearance down Queen Victoria Street. When she strode down the hill, their home-made banner was raised along with their voices. "Laura was a 19-year-old law and language student at Edinburgh University when she was struck down with meningitis and spent two weeks in intensive care at Monklands hospital," explained her mother June. "Thankfully she came through it and now has a career with RBS. Even though her hearing has been affected she has devoted her spare time to raising money for charity by running 5K, 10K, half-marathons, the Kilt Walk and even the Manchester Marathon to help others. We are so proud of her and seeing her carrying the baton is the icing on the cake."

Once she had descended the hill, turned the corner and handed the baton on, they watched the convoy move on.

The day was notable for its slick execution and the rapturous reception of thousands of onlookers. Apart from the odd traffic jam, timings were efficiently adhered to. So efficiently, in fact, that a common remark was: "Is that it? Hell, that was quick."