Olympic torch arrives in Cornwall

Ben Ainslie begins torch relay at Land's End Credit: PA

The Olympic Flame has begun its 70-day tour of the UK.

Three-times Olympic gold medal winning sailor Ben Ainslie was the first of 8,000 torchbearers when he began the relay at Land's End shortly after 7am.

The Olympic Flame was flown to the UK's most westerly point by a 771 Naval Air Squadron Sea King helicopter.

Lieutenant Commander Richard Full carried a lantern to the world-famous First and Last signpost at Land's End, where the first torch was lit.

Ainslie, who grew up in the nearby harbour town of Falmouth, carried the torch 300 metres before passing it on to 18-year-old Anastasia Swallow.

The teenager, from St Ives in Cornwall, has represented Great Britain four times internationally as a member of the junior British surf team.

Devon and Cornwall Police said around 3,500 people were at Land's End to see the start of the relay.

After leaving Land's End, the Olympic Flame passed through many communities across Cornwall. It also visited the Eden project where Ben Fogle took the torch up in a hot air balloon.