Sebastian Coe at the original Olympic site in Shropshire

Sebastian Coe has paid homage to those who sowed the seeds for the modern Olympic Games - in Shropshire.

Lord Coe, chairman of the 2012 Games, was at Much Wenlock, the birthplace of the modern Olympic movement.

"You can't possibly not recognise the massive contribution made to all things Olympian by William Penny Brookes," he told BBC Radio Shropshire.

Dr Brookes set up the Wenlock Games in the 19th century, the model then used for the 1896 Olympic revival.

Lord Coe, a double gold medal winner in 1980 and 1984, visited the museum and archives held by the society, and also the original playing fields where the annual Wenlock Games are still held, starting this weekend (11-14 July).

He also talked to and watched children from the local school - named after William Brookes - in an outdoor PE lesson. And he praised those who give up their time to organise sporting events across the country.