Olympic Torch Relay: Live coverage from the torch arrival to Cornwall

Tonight's coverage has been brought to you by Alice Wright and Jo Wood.

Join us again bright and early tomorrow morning as we follow the Olympic torch's journey through the Duchy, starting from Land's End at 7am.

8.30pm UPDATE:

An elated Boris Johnson declared the event a "triumph"

He said "It's the most extraordinary thing. The plane was not only on time, it landed bang on time, but it was early and circled over Cornwall. I believe this is a metaphor for everything [with the Olympics] - it's been either on time or ahead of time and under budget." But added he was "not remotely complacent about everything"

He said the torch relay was a "very exciting thing" in bringing the flame to the general public and said it was now a "ticking clock" until the Olympics itself.

Click here to see the gallery of the Olympic Torch's journey and arrival at Culdrose, Cornwall.

8.10pm UPDATE: Boris Johnson, London Mayor, talks to the press while the Military Band play for the crowd:

7.50pm UPDATE:

Police escorts light the lanterns from the cauldron and they've been taken for safe-keeping overnight.

Early tomorrow morning the flame will be flown from RNAS Culdrose to Land's End where it will make it's historic journey 8,000 miles across the country in 70 days to London.

7.38pm UPDATE:

The Princess Royal passes the flame to a member of the security team who very carefully lights the cauldron with it.

David Beckham describes this as a "very proud moment... as a nation we're going to have a couple of very proud months."

He makes his way to the cauldron to light the torch.

7.31pm UPDATE:

Princess Royal emerges with the flame, shortly followed by footballing legend David Beckham.

7.31pm UPDATE:

The 80 passengers get ready to disembark British Airways flight BA2012. The ceremonial lantern on board is the first live flame British Airways has ever flown with.

7.26pm UPDATE:

The British Airways plane BA2012 arrives on Cornish soil at RNAS Culdrose. Flame coloured...

7.15pm UPDATE: The runway lights have gone on and four gold chairs have been laid out in prime position.

Shadow Minister for the Olympics Tessa Jowell said "this is a cross-party project... and the people who were there at the beginning are the people that are here now... with a burning sense of purpose."

7pm UPDATE:

BBC's One Show starts transmitting live from RNAS Culdrose to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic torch to Cornwall.

Chris Evans' appearance sparks cheers in the crowds and Alex Jones' wolf whistles.

They have started to broadcast live from amongst the crowd.

Clouds have re-emerged in south Cornwall but the excitement is mounting as the countdown begins.

The plane is due to land between 7.20-7.25pm.

250 litres of paint were used to paint the British Airways BA2012 plane a 'flame colour'.

6.30pm UPDATE: As crowd of local people gather outside the fencing of RNAS Culdrose hoping to get a peek of the arriving Olympic torch in an hours time, the arrival ceremony preparations gear up a notch.

Deputy Prime Minster Nick Clegg and Olympian Ben Ainsle are interviewed for television (video below) and a band has struck up to entertain the crowd.

Sailor Ben Ainsle will be the first person to start the flame's 8,000 mile journey to London, starting tomorrow morning at 7pm from Land's End.

Helicopters put on a display above the scene, marking the spot where the plane will arrive from Athens.

Spectators at the event:

5:30pm UPDATE: A marquee is now serving drinks to the gathering crowds and VIPs at RNAS Culdrose.

Seating is now about a quarter full while preparations for the arrival of the Olympic torch continue. Two helicopters circled the site for about ten minutes.

It looks like the weather is improving in south Cornwall and the sun is pushing through clouds.

4:30pm UPDATE: The world's press is gathering at RNAS Culdrose this afternoon, in overcast but warm weather conditions, to welcome the arrival of the Olympic torch from Athens.

The cauldron, which will be lit by the arriving flame, has been polished and the stage is being vacuumed.

A big screen has been erected for the transmission of BBC's One Show which starts tonight at 7pm live from RNAS Culdrose, which Chris Evans and Alex Jones are currently rehearsing for.

Chris Evans is wearing a smart navy suit and Alex Jones a 'very elegant white coat, coral trousers and nude heels'.

EARLIER: The Olympic torch arrival to Cornwall has been a long time in the coming and as final preparations are made at RNAS Culdrose, the Duchy is bracing itself for a media storm.

An estimated billion eyes around the world will be watching as the historic torch relay begins.

Tonight the plane carrying the torch from Athens (see a gallery of the hand-over here) arrives in Cornwall at 7.30pm. The Princess Royal will lead the flame lighting.

Before it gets here RNAS Culdrose will welcome about 500 local people, 150 members of the media from all over the world, plus local dignitaries with entertainment from the Royal Marine Band.

This is Cornwall has booked its place and will be bringing you live coverage throughout the afternoon/evening, and then all through the relay in Cornwall tomorrow.

We'll be bringing you videos, live streaming and photographs from the landing today and tomorrow our live interactive map (below) will update in real-time with photos from the relay.

We'd love you to get involved. Send us any emails or videos you'd like us to feature to jo.wood@northcliffemedia.co.uk or upload your own gallery of pictures straight to www.thisiscornwall.co.uk to be in with a chance of winning a £50 Amazon voucher.

Here's our interactive map and full route details (which will fill up with pictures as the weekend progresses), and below that, what people are saying on the social media sites.