London Mayor Boris Johnson greets torch bearer Abul Kasam at the Tower

The Olympic flame arrived in Tower Hamlets in dramatic style, being abseiled into the Tower of London, from a Royal Navy helicopter.

Dame Kelly Holmes runs through the Tower with the Olympic torch

Dame Kelly Holmes became the capital’s first torchbearer as she ran on to the ramparts of the Tower on Friday.

The double Olympic gold medallist later handed the flame to Abul Kasam, 30, who was selected as a torchbearer for his voluntary work in Tower Hamlets, and who carried the flame into a reception for invited guests at the Jewel House.

Dignitaries watching included London Mayor Boris Johnson, Constable of the Tower General the Lord Dannatt, Chair of LOCOG, Sebastian Coe, and Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman.

The flame later took part in the Tower’s ancient Ceremony of the Keys before being taken to the Queen’s House for safe keeping overnight.

Saturday morning it began a week long tour taking in each of London’s 33 boroughs.