Bobby rockers: Dancing policeman gets into the Olympic spirit as he entertains people waiting along the torch route

By David Baker and Tom Goodenough
As the Olympic Torch has traveled the length and breadth of the country, police officers have been working hard behind the scenes to keep the runners safe.
But for one policeman, getting into the spirit of the Games was also included in the job description.
The officer in Sevenoaks showed off his moves on the beat as the Torch made its way through the town yesterday on day 63 of the relay.
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A policeman outrider dances for the crowd in Sevenoaks during yesterday's Olympic torch relay through the town

The policeman did his best to entertain the crowds waiting for the Olympic Torch to pass through on the 63rd day of the route after pulling up on his motorbike

And eager spectators lapped up the performance - posting photographs and videos of the light-hearted moment online.
As impressive as the policeman's dancing ability was, however, the Torch succeeded in winning back the limelight later in the day after it was dropped down from a helicopter into the ancient walls of the Tower of London.

 

The torch made its dramatic entrance into the capital in the arms of a Royal Marine.
And after its impressive touch-down, the flame has again been greeted by cheering crowds today on day 64 of the relay, which will cover five out of London's six 'Olympic boroughs' where events in the summer Games are to be held.

Martin Williams descends in front of Tower Bridge on his way down into the grounds of the Tower of London

The torch made its way past the restored Cutty Sark ship in Greenwich today as it begins its final journey to the Olympic Stadium

The torch resumed its London journey this morning at the Greenwich Royal Observatory overlooking the site of the Olympics' equestrian events, before it will pass through Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Waltham Forest.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnson, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world, ran the torch around the recently-restored iconic clipper to cheers from the watching crowds.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnson, left, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world carried the torch through Greenwich, whilst hero soldier Jaco van Gass, who lost his arm while serving in Afghanistan in 2009, held the flame as it made its way through Woolwich

Singer Paloma Faith carrys the Olympic Flame on the Torch Relay leg through Newham today

And 15-year-old local resident Natasha Sinha, who was nominated to carry the torch for her dedication to swimming and cross-country running, took the flame past the equestrian arena.
The torch later traveled towards Woolwich where Private Jaco van Gass, 25, from South Africa, lost his left arm in a rocket-propelled grenade attack while serving with the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan in 2009.

 

Van Gass, who now lives in Woolwich, last year successfully trekked to the North Pole for the Walking With The Wounded charity, and was part of an attempt to climb Mount Everest this year.
British medal hopeful Phillips Idowu, who picked up a silver medal at the Beijing Games four years ago, said he was 'full of emotion' today as he carried the Olympic Torch in Stratford.

Dancers performing during today's carnival in Hackney, east London, take a well-earned break

More than 2,000 performers took part in the carnival celebrations in Hackney, east London, to mark the arrival of the Olympic Torch passing through

The triple-jumper was greeted by hundreds of excited well-wishers just a stone's throw from the Olympic Park in east London.
Idowu, who was born and raised in east London appeared overwhelmed by the crowd's support.
He said: 'It's an amazing feeling. I'm full of emotion right now.
'Being born, raised and schooled in east London, having the opportunity to carry the Olympic Torch in the home Games in front of my east London people... you guys have done me really proud.
'Thank you guys for coming out and hopefully in a couple of weeks' time I can make you guys proud also.'
The torch's earlier grand entrance into the capital plunged the symbol of the games into the city's historic heart, bringing Olympic pageantry to the British capital for the first time since it last held the event in 1948.

Paloma Faith, who completed the relay in huge heels, passed the flame on to Sheikh Sheikh

Former British javelin star Tessa Sanderson also took part in the relay through Olympic borough Newham today

Royal Marine Martyn Williams said he dedicated today's feat to the family of Lance Corporal Steven 'Jamie' Fellows who was killed while serving in Afghanistan in December 2008.
Speaking after abseiling into the tower with the flame, the 23-year-old from Nacton, Suffolk, said: 'Jamie was killed (when he was) with me in 2008 and it's nice to do something for him.
'I was driving a Jackal armoured vehicle in Sangin. It hit a roadside bomb, an IED, which struck the passenger side of the vehicle.
'He was killed in the incident, I got away with literally just a broken foot. A few months recovery and now I'm fully fit, so I'm very lucky.'
The Royal Marine, who works for Commando Helicopter Force's mobile air operations team, described the experience as 'an honour'.
'The view out of the helicopter was amazing, I got in the doorway and it was time to go,' he added.

Torchbearers Nadia Comaneci, left, and John Amaechi, right, carried the flame across the viewing platform of the North Greenwich Arena today

The torch relay has now entered its 64th day as it begins its final approach to the Olympic stadium

Sky high: The flame came down from the skies and was delivered to the eagerly awaiting crowd

After carrying the torch, he said: 'It was fantastic. I'm really looking forward to the Games. As a dual citizen - of South Africa and Great Britain - I've got double the chance of celebrating.'
Dame Kelly Holmes said that now the flame is in London, any doubt people may have about the success of the London Olympics would dissipate.

She said: 'The Games are going to happen and they are going to be a great Games.

'I think once the sport starts and that cauldron is lit people will focus on the excitement and the energy that the Games bring.

'It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to be involved in a home Games and if you see around the nation what this flame has done to unite communities and people.

'It's now hit London and that's going to make people start to think 'wow, OK, this is something big'.'

Crowds: Hundreds of spectators take to the famous bridge as the torch arrives after its 63-day tour around the British Isles

A Royal Navy helicopter carrying the London 2012 Olympic torch flies over Tower Bridge

The 8,000-mile torch relay has already been a cultural draw for millions across the length of Britain, enticing crowds out to meet it wherever it goes.
Spectators in raincoats have flash-mobbed to its side, hoping for that once-in-a-lifetime chance to touch a bit of history and as it made its first appearance in London there was no less pomp.
Boris Johnson and Sebastian Coe were among those on hand to greet its arrival and both made speeches to signify its stint around the capital.
It is now set to make its way around all of the 33 London boroughs before it is handed over for the final stint at the Olympic Stadium to announce to opening of the Games on Friday next week.
But while for Londoners it will ignite a time of excitement, it will also spell the start of four weeks of extreme crowds and transport strains.

Eagerly awaiting: Dame Kelly Holmes waiting to carry Olympic Flame in the grounds of the Tower of London

Taken over the baton: British retired champion Dame Kelly Holmes poses for the photographers with the Olympic flame at the Tower of London

Handover: British Royal Marine Commando Martyn Williams (right) hands the Olympic Flame to the next runner Dame Kelly Holmes after its arrival at the Tower of London

Organisers have continued to try and smooth the way with regular Boris Johnson announcements at Underground stations calling on Londoner's to 'get ahead of the Games' while subway lines are festooned with big magenta and pink signs pointing routes to Olympic venues.
Cartoony ads with wide-eyed horses and beefy musclemen warn commuters to remember that Olympic competitions are taking place and to rethink their daily journeys.
Londoners who already struggle to get to work on any given weekday aren't convinced all will be well though- and haven't been shy about saying so.
The atmosphere of gloom has been segmented by the seemingly never-ending rain and a constant stream of headlines about the failure of security contractor G4S to provide enough guards.
But the mayor has a message for the naysayers: 'Put a sock in it.'
Writing in The Sun, Boris Johnson said: 'We've got an advanced case of Olympo-funk.
'We agonize about the traffic, when our transport systems are performing well and the world's athletes are arriving on time. ... We gnaw our fingernails about the blinking weather, when it seems to be brightening up a bit - and anyway, it's England in July for goodness sake and a spot of rain never hurt anyone.' 

 

British Slumdogs: Performers dressed as 19th century workers arrive for Opening Ceremony rehearsal

Performers dressed in full costume were snapped on their way to the dress rehearsal of the Olympics Opening Ceremony today.
Hundreds of volunteers were seen wearing tattered clothing to bring to life the hard of the workers during the Industrial Revolution, although some of the actresses choice of footwear clashed with the 19th century skirts.
The extravagant show will be telling the history of Britain at the hands of Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle.

Performers taking part in the staging of the Industrial Revolution Olympics opening ceremony on their way to a dress rehearsal

The images from inside the Olympic Arena show a Hobbiton like landscape with real grass , thatched roof cottages and a big water-wheel and is said to be followed by the Britain shaped by industrial revolution with grey industrial backdrops.
The green fields will have a small menagerie of ‘animal performers’ brought in to give it a true British country feel.
There will also be a game of cricket in one corner and four giant Maypoles representing England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

The performers are dressed in costumes matching the period they are trying to re-create, although some were seem wearing trainers underneath their skirts

Models of the buildings which make up the London Skyline; The Gherkin, the Houses of Parliament and the Royal Albert Hall have been built for the performance but in bringing life to the true history of Britain there will also be a staging of the 1936 Jarrow march, when 200 men walked to London to protest about unemployment and poverty in the North-East.
The NHS will be honoured by real nurses pushing hospital beds around the arena, and there’ll also be a tribute to the suffragette movement and the Beatles.
A total of 10,000 performers have been brought in for the ceremony which has a budget of £27 million.

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