The Olympic flame has landed in the UK ready for the London 2012 torch relay after being flown from Athens, Greece.

David Beckham used it to light a cauldron after the plane, also carrying Princess Anne and Locog chair Lord Coe, arrived at a Cornish air base. Flight BA2012, a gold-coloured A319 named The Firefly, was greeted at RNAS Culdrose by cheering crowds. After Friday's welcoming ceremony, the flame flies on Saturday to Land's End for the start of an 8,000 mile relay. The Princess Royal carried the transportation lantern containing the flame from the aircraft and on to the tarmac.

 It was transferred to a London 2012 torch and David Beckham lit a cauldron, to mark the flame's arrival on UK soil. He said: "It's a very proud moment for everybody. "Seb (Coe) and the team have done an incredible job. I'm very proud to be part of this team bringing the flame. As a nation we're going to have an amazing couple of months."

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was at the Royal Naval air station to formally welcome the flame, along with 500 members of the public, armed forces and dignitaries. He said: "Eight thousand people will pass it from hand-to-hand, a human chain that reaches the length and breadth of Britain. "With every step, the excitement will build. Ten weeks from now, the world will watch as the flame arrives at the Olympic Stadium, bringing with it the hopes of a nation." Chairman of Olympic organisers Locog, Lord Coe, who went to Greece for the lighting and handover of the flame, said this next stage in the build-up to the Games was a "magical moment for any host country". He said: "It's just suddenly come home that this is the first time this has happened in this country for 64 years." The flame will spend Friday night under guard at the air base and on Saturday morning be flown the 25 miles to Land's End by a Royal Navy search and rescue helicopters

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