Jane Tomlinson’s son holds Olympic torch aloft in Leeds

The 14-year-old son of late inspirational fundraiser Jane Tomlinson carried the Olympic Torch in Leeds today and said it was “an amazing experience”.

Steven Tomlinson was one of the early torchbearers on Day 38 of the flame’s journey around the UK.

The teenager was cheered and mobbed by people wanting to take his photo as he arrived in the terraced streets of Beeston, to complete his 300m leg.

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His mother, who died from cancer in 2007 at the age of 43, carried the torch ahead of the 2004 Games in Athens.

She inspired thousands of people as she defied experts and spent seven years raising more than £1.8 million in a series of endurance challenges.

Since her death, her family, including Steven, have continued staging dramatic challenges and have raised a huge amount of further cash.

Steven was welcomed by school friends as he finished the uphill stretch.

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He said: “It was really good, it was really fun. It was an amazing experience.”

Crowds packed each side of Tempest Road in Beeston to cheer Steven as he sprinted up the hill.

The teenager beamed as he waved to people shouting his name.

Before he set off he said: “There’s a lot more people than I expected. There’s thousands. It’s very exciting.”

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Steven was watched by his father, Mike, and sisters, Suzanne and Rebecca.

Mr Tomlinson said: “It’s lovely. Jane was an ambassador for the Olympic bid for 2012 and Jane ran with the torch in 2004 for the Athens Olympics. He (Steven) saw that.

“Unless you’ve seen it, you don’t realise the excitement that it generates.”

Mr Tomlinson said he remembers the day his wife carried the torch in London in 2004 very well.

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“It was a special day!” he said. “You don’t forget something like that.”

The torch later left Leeds and began a day-long tour of West and South Yorkshire.

Lord Coe - the man most closely associated with London 2012 - will carry the Olympic torch in his home city of Sheffield later.

The double Olympic gold medallist was one of the key figures in securing the Games for London and is the chairman of the committee organising the spectacle.

Lord Coe will carry the torch in Sheffield city centre before a celebration event expected to attract thousands of people.

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