History made as Olympic torch passes through Lambeth
A huge thank you to all those who helped make history by cheering on the Olympic torch as it passed through Lambeth.
Thousands of Lambeth residents enjoyed glorious sunshine to witness history as the Olympic Flame visited the borough.
Crowds flocked onto Windrush Square in Brixton to wave flags and see the flame passed between torchbearers Cameron Fraser, who coordinates a charity which provides free sports activities for people with special needs, and Richard Fullbrook, a police officer who has run over 100 marathons raising thousands of pounds for charity.
Brixton Celebrity Levi Roots and Olympic 400 metre hurdle legend Ed Moses had warmed up the crowd, joined by Dame Tessa Jowell, leader of Lambeth Council Steve Reed, Lambeth Youth Mayor Samuel Davies, the Mayor of Lambeth Councillor Clive Bennett and thousands of Lambeth residents who had come out to catch a glimpse of the flame on the penultimate day of its 70 day journey across the UK.
Councillor Steve Reed, Leader of the Council, said: "To see so many people turn out to see the Olympic torch today made me hugely proud of our fantastic borough. We welcomed the world to Lambeth today and our wonderful torchbearers and brilliant, enthusiastic crowds did the borough proud. I like to say a huge thank you to everyone who made the day such a success – you really helped to show Lambeth at its best".
Earlier the flame had entered Lambeth at the border with Southwark carried by torchbearer Kenton Cool, one of Britain's leading alpine climbers.
Hundreds of flag waving residents lined the roads to cheer on the borough's torchbearers as the flame passed down Coldharbour Lane, Acre Lane, into Clapham and finally out of the borough.
You can learn more about all of Lambeth’s amazing torchbearers on London 2012 website.
Council staff, business owners and local volunteers pulled out all the stops to get Lambeth ready for the Olympic torch visit. With the international spotlight falling on our amazing borough, people worked hard to spruce up key areas by painting, fixing, and cleaning landmarks along the route. See photographs of Lambeth's clean up operation.
Later in the day Tony Page was the torchbearer in front of Big Ben. Tony raised £1.25 million to renovate the wartime Darby and Joan club in Lambeth to re-open it as the Woodlands Carers' Hub where older people meet daily for hot meals, bingo, art lessons, exercise classes, company, fun and laughter.
The centre includes the Asian Club, Afro-Caribbean Club, hairdressing salon making wigs for cancer patients, computer room, church, meeting rooms and function rooms and a beautiful historic garden.
Watch BBC torch relay video of the flame passing through Lambeth on the BBC website.
The Olympic opening ceremony took place on Friday 27 July.