Crowds approaching 100,000 strong gathered across Bradford, Keighley, Skipton and Ilkley today as the Olympic Torch relay weaved across the district.

After making its way from Halifax and Brighouse, the Olympic Flame arrived in Bradford city centre shortly before 3pm to be greeted by cheering onlookers.

Thomas Stokes, 20, of Little Horton, Bradford, was the Olympic Torch bearer across Centenary Square.

He was nominated through his involvement in a football project run by Bradford Charity, One in a Million, and for becoming an exemplary role model for young people from in the area. He handed the Flame to Jamie Brown, 18, of Allerton, Bradford, who was selected through the Coca-Cola campaign for his dedication to coaching swimming and for being chosen as a Young Ambassador for Sport.

Edwin Mclean, who had come to watch the spectacle with young son Isaac, said: “It has been a fantastic day and great to see that the people of Bradford have come out to support it.”

From Bradford city centre the relay continued along Manningham Lane to Lister Park where Khalil Hussain, an inclusion officer at Springwood Community Primary School, Manningham, who has been helping the community since the age of 13, was among those carrying the torch across the park.

Bradford Council has estimated 30,000 people saw the relay making its way throught the city.

It was then taken to Keighley where 20,000 people lined the streets to welcome the Olympic Flame.

People were stood several deep along the route, cheering and applauding as the Torch relay made its way through the town.

The three torchbearers - Catherine Bull, Jerry Ward and Rodger Davies - each carried it for about 300 metres, urged on by enthusiastic flag-waving townspeople and visitors.

An estimated 25,000 people flocked to Skipton as the Olympic Flame was carried through the town.

Craven District Council chairman Chris Harbron said it was the “best atmosphere” he had ever seen in the town.

The Torch relay left Skipton via Otley Road at about 4.30pm, before it was taken by convoy to Ilkley.

And the sun came out at just the right time to welcome the Flame to the town, where again about 20,000 people were estimated to have lined the streets.

Spectators were treated to the sight of one of their own, 74-year-old Margaret Cook, as one of the trio of torchbearers.

Ilkley resident Mrs Cook, a former nurse, who has been instrumental in helping the Soroptimists International in Sierra Leone, was wreathed in smiles as she accepted the Flame right in the centre of the town.

She was also accompanied by the bells of All Saints Church, which sounded a full peal to announce the arrival of the historic moment.