Olympic Torch Relay
Hundreds of specially chosen torchbearers and celebrities will carry the Olympic torch on its journey through the North.
Olympic Torch's descent with window-cleaning abseiler
The Olympic Torch made its way down the face of The Sage building in Gateshead in the hands of abseiler Richard Jackson this morning.
Mr Jackson, from Seaton Sluice, is no stranger to the feat - he's one of the window-cleaning team! He was cheered on by his wife Sian, and hundreds of spectators.
He said he was praying for a dry sunny daybreak but he was equally prepared for the rain, having practised in all weather conditions. He had even rehearsed his stunt carrying a length of pipe in his right hand in place of the torch.
He told ITV News' Ian Payne: "Flames and ropes don't mix so I had one eye on the torch, one eye on the ropes, one eye on my feet and one eye on the public!
"I couldn't really take it all in - it was an amazing feeling and I'll reflect on it later with a lot of pride".
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Tyneside prepares for the Olympics
St James' Park prepares to host Olympic football matches, bring the 2012 games to the North East.
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Torch Tracker: Dumfries to Bowness-on-Windermere
Your guide to the torch relay
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Olympic Torch carried from York to Cumbria
Thousands turned out to see the Olympic flame carried through North Yorkshire.