Video: Olympic flame arrives at stately Chatsworth

CARRYING the Olympic flame in a cable car with an open window at a height of 213ft (65m) above the ground was “just beautiful”, a torchbearer has said.

Gymnast Dominick Cunningham was cheered on by hundreds of spectators as he proudly held the torch in a Heights of Abraham cable car as it soared above the Peak District at Matlock Bath in Derbyshire.

He obviously has a head for heights as he showed no sign of nerves as the wind rocked the car from side to side - a feature Heights of Abraham organisers said they were careful to consider when discussing possible torchbearers with the Olympics committee.

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Cunningham, 17, from Birmingham, said: It was just brilliant - bringing everyone together for the Olympics.

“It was just beautiful coming up in the hilltop to see everyone celebrating for the Olympics and just waiting for the competition now.”

He said he practised on the cable cars once before his big moment and the weather was actually worse than today’s blustery conditions.

“I’ve done it once before, hanging out the window, as a trial run and today was actually better - it wasn’t as windy as the one before,” he said.

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At last year’s Commonwealth Youth Games, Cunningham was the most successful gymnast with a haul of two golds, a silver and a bronze.

He has just returned after injury and added: “With all this happening, it’s made me even more motivated.

“I’ve got to live up to this now and I’ve got to make sure I hopefully go for the Olympics in 2016.”

Cunningham posed for photos with the torch with a sweeping view of the Peak District behind him, close to an Olympic mural painted by artist Tess Willoughby and local schoolchildren.

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The colourful mural was made up of students’ designs chosen for their “bold and energetic natures”, Ms Willoughby said.

“I am so proud of this Olympic mural and of the students who painted with me throughout the last week,” she said.

“Their designs look stunning against my simple woodland-inspired backdrop.”

The torch began its journey at Nottingham Castle this morning and will have travelled a total of 112 miles (180km) by the time it reaches Derby for tonight’s celebrations.

After leaving Matlock Bath, the flame continued its journey towards Bakewell, where it was welcomed on the South Lawn at Chatsworth House by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.