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| Paralympic Games: Crowds line torch relay route | Paralympic Games: Crowds line torch relay route |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of people have turned out to welcome the Paralympic flame which is en route to the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony of the Games. | Thousands of people have turned out to welcome the Paralympic flame which is en route to the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony of the Games. |
| Crowds have lined the route of the 24-hour torch relay which began in Stoke Mandeville on Tuesday night. | Crowds have lined the route of the 24-hour torch relay which began in Stoke Mandeville on Tuesday night. |
| The relay is running more than two hours late but organisers insisted reduced breaks would make up the time. | |
| However, a splinter flame has been taken to the Stadium to ensure the cauldron is lit at the planned time. | |
| A late-finishing ceremony in Stoke Mandeville and the time required for multiple exchanges of the flame between team members has been blamed for the timing slipping throughout the relay. | A late-finishing ceremony in Stoke Mandeville and the time required for multiple exchanges of the flame between team members has been blamed for the timing slipping throughout the relay. |
| Beatles' pose | Beatles' pose |
| Organisers Locog said it would cut breaks and reduce the number of photo opportunities along the route in the hope the relay would arrive in time for the cauldron lighting. | Organisers Locog said it would cut breaks and reduce the number of photo opportunities along the route in the hope the relay would arrive in time for the cauldron lighting. |
| But as a back up, a splinter flame has been taken to the Stadium so events at the opening ceremony can go ahead as planned should the relay not make up the time. | But as a back up, a splinter flame has been taken to the Stadium so events at the opening ceremony can go ahead as planned should the relay not make up the time. |
| The Queen and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are among those due to attend the opening ceremony which starts at 20:30 BST. | The Queen and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are among those due to attend the opening ceremony which starts at 20:30 BST. |
| Crowds gathered in the market square in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, to watch the start of the relay and thousands more turned out overnight along the route to cheer on the torchbearers. | Crowds gathered in the market square in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, to watch the start of the relay and thousands more turned out overnight along the route to cheer on the torchbearers. |
| After arriving in London, the flame, which is being carried by 580 torchbearers, was taken up the steps to Britain's first traditional Hindu temple, the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir temple in Brent, where a torch was lit at about 08:30 BST. | After arriving in London, the flame, which is being carried by 580 torchbearers, was taken up the steps to Britain's first traditional Hindu temple, the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir temple in Brent, where a torch was lit at about 08:30 BST. |
| Barry Gardiner, MP for Brent, took part in a ceremony which involved pulling apart string made up of different threads and colours to "allow" the Paralympic torch through. | Barry Gardiner, MP for Brent, took part in a ceremony which involved pulling apart string made up of different threads and colours to "allow" the Paralympic torch through. |
| He said: "It was a very special moment. We have been waiting since 6.30am and the thrill and excitement is just fantastic. I don't think there has ever been a setting like this, for an Olympic or Paralympic flame." | He said: "It was a very special moment. We have been waiting since 6.30am and the thrill and excitement is just fantastic. I don't think there has ever been a setting like this, for an Olympic or Paralympic flame." |
| The Paralympic Games are being talked-up a lot this year. | The Paralympic Games are being talked-up a lot this year. |
| Channel 4 has put a lot of marketing and production effort into bringing the Games to a wider audience than before, with over 500 hours promised to UK viewers. | Channel 4 has put a lot of marketing and production effort into bringing the Games to a wider audience than before, with over 500 hours promised to UK viewers. |
| Important figures in sport and politics have stepped up to tell us that the Games will "dazzle" and "inspire". Seb Coe said those watching the sports would be "blown away". | Important figures in sport and politics have stepped up to tell us that the Games will "dazzle" and "inspire". Seb Coe said those watching the sports would be "blown away". |
| But will we all want to see TV coverage of the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi? Or the next summer Games at Rio 2016? And is there a worldwide clamour to push this recently unearthed disability agenda across the globe, or are we just feeling it more because it's our Games? | But will we all want to see TV coverage of the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi? Or the next summer Games at Rio 2016? And is there a worldwide clamour to push this recently unearthed disability agenda across the globe, or are we just feeling it more because it's our Games? |
| The significance of London 2012 Paralympics will be in the legacy and it might take a little while before we can fully appreciate the impact of that. | The significance of London 2012 Paralympics will be in the legacy and it might take a little while before we can fully appreciate the impact of that. |
| In Maida Vale a team of torchbearers was cheered by crowds as the flame was carried over the Abbey Road crossing, made famous by The Beatles album cover. | In Maida Vale a team of torchbearers was cheered by crowds as the flame was carried over the Abbey Road crossing, made famous by The Beatles album cover. |
| At London Zoo in Regent's Park the flame was held aloft in the penguin enclosure by torchbearers Adam Hollick, John Craig, Fiona Forsyth, Charlie Humphrys and Aruna Mahtani. | At London Zoo in Regent's Park the flame was held aloft in the penguin enclosure by torchbearers Adam Hollick, John Craig, Fiona Forsyth, Charlie Humphrys and Aruna Mahtani. |
| All members of the team, who were previously unemployed and have disabilities including spinal cord injury, blindness and impaired mental health, have trained and qualified as gym fitness instructors. | All members of the team, who were previously unemployed and have disabilities including spinal cord injury, blindness and impaired mental health, have trained and qualified as gym fitness instructors. |
| Former boxer Michael Watson, wheelchair racer Dame Tanni Grey Thompson and Paralympic swimmer Chris Holmes were in the team who carried the flame along Regent Street and through Piccadilly Circus. | Former boxer Michael Watson, wheelchair racer Dame Tanni Grey Thompson and Paralympic swimmer Chris Holmes were in the team who carried the flame along Regent Street and through Piccadilly Circus. |
| Torchbearer Edward Parker co-founded the Walking With The Wounded charity, which raises money to support injured servicemen and women. | Torchbearer Edward Parker co-founded the Walking With The Wounded charity, which raises money to support injured servicemen and women. |
| He was nominated to carry the flame by Prince Harry. | He was nominated to carry the flame by Prince Harry. |
| The 46-year-old from Norwich was joined by fellow nominees, his nephew Harry Parker, 29, who lost both his legs in Afghanistan and Captain David Wiseman, 29, who was shot while fighting the Taliban. | The 46-year-old from Norwich was joined by fellow nominees, his nephew Harry Parker, 29, who lost both his legs in Afghanistan and Captain David Wiseman, 29, who was shot while fighting the Taliban. |
| The charity's co-founder Simon Daglish, 46, and his son Felix Daglish, who has cerebral palsy also joined the team. | The charity's co-founder Simon Daglish, 46, and his son Felix Daglish, who has cerebral palsy also joined the team. |
| Edward Parker said carrying the flame was "a very special thing to be able to do. I felt a bit humbled by the whole thing. It was an amazing feeling." | Edward Parker said carrying the flame was "a very special thing to be able to do. I felt a bit humbled by the whole thing. It was an amazing feeling." |
| He added: "It was great going past Horse Guards [Parade] and the Ministry of Defence. It means a lot to have their support." | He added: "It was great going past Horse Guards [Parade] and the Ministry of Defence. It means a lot to have their support." |
| The flame is due to arrive at a celebration event at Stratford Park, east London, at 21:50 BST before it makes its final journey to the nearby Olympic Park to light the cauldron at the opening ceremony. | The flame is due to arrive at a celebration event at Stratford Park, east London, at 21:50 BST before it makes its final journey to the nearby Olympic Park to light the cauldron at the opening ceremony. |
| Have you been to watch the Paralympic torch relay? Do you have tickets for Paralympic events? Send us your comments using the form below. | Have you been to watch the Paralympic torch relay? Do you have tickets for Paralympic events? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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