Looking back - ten years on from the Olympic torch relay

Over the course of three weeks, millions were glued to their television sets or took the trip to the Olympic Park in Stratford to watch as Team GB won gold after gold.

Roughly ten days before the official opening ceremony, the Olympic torch made a three-day trek through Sussex, passing from the village of Rogate in the west through to Rye, before heading on to Kent and into London.

Children cheered and waved flags as the Olympic torch approached in Lancing: credit - Liz Finlayson

Thousands lined the streets in Lewes, Worthing, Eastbourne and Brighton as torch bearers ran through, carrying the Olympic flame in its golden torch.

Spectators cheered and waved Union flags to celebrate the once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

One person attending the relay in Crowborough said they had “never seen the streets this crowded before”, with another in East Grinstead saying it felt like the whole town had come to watch.

Torch bearer Karen West with Olympian Sally Gunnell after lighting a cauldron at the Sussex Cricket Ground in Hove: credit - Simon Dack

Huge crowds also packed out Sussex Cricket Ground in Hove as a special cauldron was lit to mark the Olympic torch going through the city.

The torch passed several major landmarks along its route, passing by the Royal Pavilion, St Peter’s Church and Rye Castle.

In Bexhill, comedian and actor Eddie Izzard was one of those lucky enough to carry the Olympic torch along part of the route, with Brighton hip hop duo Rizzle Kicks carrying the torch through Eastbourne.

Zachary Narvacz with the Olympic torch outside of the Royal Pavilion in Brighton: credit - Simon Dack

The Games themselves saw Team GB place third in the medal table with their then-best performance since 1908.

Among those to win medals was Sussex-born equestrian Kristina Cook, who won silver in team eventing.