THE Olympic flame was held proudly aloft by three runners from south Essex, who celebrated Britain's sporting talent.

Basildon TV personality Denise Van Outen carried the famous torch near Piccadilly Circus, London, before passing it on to Kirste Snellgrove, from Benfleet Running Club, who carried it up to the Theatre Royal, in Haymarket.

Kirste completed the London Marathon and a 220-mile charity bike ride in the USA after recovering from breast cancer.

Paralympic gold medallist Danny Crates, who holds the 800m track world record, also got his chance to carry the flame and said he was honoured to take part.

Danny, of Southend Road, Stanford-le-Hope, said: "It's a huge thing, especially for an athlete. It represents so much."

The flame was paraded on a 31-mile journey through the city and Danny's run followed on from sailing champion Dame Ellen MacArthur, about 5.50pm yesterday.

He then ran through Greenwich before passing the flame on to Arsenal footballer Theo Walcott, who carried it on to Dame Kelly Holmes before she lit the Olympic cauldron.

The torch was lit in Olympia, Greece, last week and will go through 20 countries before being carried into the Beijing Games opening ceremony on August 8.

However, its journey has been marred by protests about China's human rights record and actions in Tibet. This led to 35 arrests in London as scuffles broke out along the route from Wembley to Greenwich.

At one point, demonstrators tried to snatch the torch from ex-Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq and a fire extinguisher was let off. But Danny was undeterred by the unrest.

He said: "They tried to stop it, but I wasn't bothered at all.

"For an athlete the flame is totally different. It's not political, it's about the Olympics and the Paralympics.

"The flame is about athletes without a political agenda. That's what it represents to us."

Kirste, whose cancer returned a couple of months ago, described her run with the torch as "one of the greatest days of my life".

She said: "I know all the publicity after the relay is going to be about the protests, but I'm thankful that there were no incidents during my leg.

"Friends who came up to support me said that it must have been a strange experience being surrounded by so much security, but to be honest I wasn't aware of anyone else at all. I was completely in a world of my own.

"I ran the leg and it's an experience I'll never forget. Obviously it was a cold day for the time of year, but it didn't snow during my leg and it wouldn't have mattered if it had done.

"I was so excited about taking part that I could have been knee-deep in snow and I wouldn't have noticed."