Hundreds see Olympic torch at York Minster

Hundreds of people gathered outside York Minster to kick off day 33 of the torch’s journey around Britain and Ireland.

Jessica Hoggarth-Hall looked faintly embarrassed as the whole crowd sang Happy Birthday to her.

As the teenager set off for her 300-metre stretch she was cheered by friends from All Saints RC School in York.

Jessica said the rendition of Happy Birthday was “a bit embarrassing but it felt good as well”.

“It’s amazing. It feels a bit surreal but I’ve got it now.

“It’s an honour, I feel really privileged.

“I didn’t think there’d be this many people. It’s a bit early.”

Jessica carried the torch as it left York Minster on its way to a journey on a famous steam train.

The torch is spending its third day in Yorkshire and will travel from York to Thirsk and then across the Yorkshire Dales before moving into County Durham and Cumbria.

For the York to Thirsk stretch the flame will be carried on a train pulled by Scots Guardsman - one of two remaining LMS Royal Scot Class locomotives.

The loco, which is housed at the National Railway Museum in York, was featured in 1936 film Night Mail.

The torch relay has surpassed expectations in terms of visitor numbers, tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire has said.

Around 23,000 people turned out at York Racecourse last night for an event which saw showjumping legend Harvey Smith carry the flame on horseback.

The agency said 250,000 people watched the torch in the county when it arrived on Monday and almost 200,000 yesterday.

The torch goes across the Pennines later today but returns to West Yorkshire on Sunday.