'I want to go with Daddy': Tim Peake's young sons dazzled as father flies off into space

It was an emotional farewell for British astronaut Tim Peake and his family on Tuesday morning, as he set off on a six-month mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

ITV News Correspondent Dan Rivers captured Major Peake sharing a heartwarming goodbye with his two young sons as he set off to become the first Briton in space since Helen Sharman in 1991.

After blastoff at Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome, the two youngsters - Thomas, six, and Oliver, four - looked up in awe as the Soyuz rocket carrying their dad and fellow crew members Yuri Malenchenko and Tim Kopra hurtled at 26 million horsepower toward its target.

Speaking before he climbed into the tiny capsule which would hold him until he reached the ISS, Oliver cried loudly and could be heard saying: "I want to go with Daddy".

Major Peake's wife Rebecca, centre, wore a huge smile as she watched her husband hurtle towards space. Credit: PA

His parents - who seemed unusually calm despite previously joking they'd wished he worked in a bank instead - calmly told him: "Enjoy your trip."

Major Peake's wife Rebecca was also all smiles as she watched the launch from a VIP viewing area around a mile from Launch Pad 1 - the same spot where Yuri Gagarin took off to become the first person in space in 1961.

Photographers capture the Soyuz rocket's spectacular blastoff. Credit: Reuters

After the successful take off - which took place in near-perfect conditions and was greeted with rapturous applause - she was heard to say: "Wasn't it an amazing sight? I had the biggest smile on my face."