An estimated 100,000 people lined the streets of the borough this morning as the Olympic torch was carried through Harrow.

Joanna Hyams, 28, lit the flame in front of the 14th Century Headstone Manor building in Pinner View surrounded by hundreds of people who had been let in to see the relay start at 9.15am in scorching temperatures.

The volunteer, who is part of a charity which provides food for the homeless in London and raises money for riot victims and injured soldiers, then carried the Olympic Flame towards Headstone Gardens before 19 others completed legs of the relay.

Surinder Arora, who was the fourth torchbearer of the day, admitted to a few nerves beforehand but said he was “very excited” to complete his leg near Harrow Civic Centre.

He added: “I’m honoured to have been chosen. It’s a once in a lifetime thing and we’ve been blessed with this beautiful weather.

“The Olympics is a great thing for the whole country and it’s just great to be part of it.”

The biggest audience was in Harrow town centre where crowds five-deep lined the streets fighting for a spot to see the torch and take photos, with hundreds of Union Flags and balloons on display.

Cheerleaders and dohl drummers performed outside Siddhashram International Centre in Palmerston Road, while the choir from St John the Baptist Church in Station Road gave an impromptu performance.

Miah Obi, 12, was one of the cheerleaders and said she was “very proud” to represent the borough.

She said: “It was really fun. My mum put me in for the cheerleading squad, I didn’t even know about it and but it was really good.”

Proud mum Donna John, who was with her two other daughters to see the flame pass by, added: “It’s really good to get out and for something to be happening in Harrow, even if it was for just ten minutes it makes everyone a little bit happier.”

St Mary’s Church provided a picturesque backdrop for the torch as it made its way toward Brent on the final leg of the relay at 10.22am, on its 30-mile journey to Alexandra Palace in Haringey.

John Stevens was in the crowd with his two sons, Ben, seven, and David, four, all of whom were dressed in Team GB kit and waving flags.

He said: “It was fantastic. There were so many people and you could see everyone was having fun seeing the torch. It is great to see the Olympics on our doorstep.”

World Cup-winning England goalkeeper Gordon Banks, 74, was cheered on by thousands as he took the torch along Olympic Way at Wembley Stadium after Team GB’s Athens 2004 badminton silver medallist Nathan Roberston took the torch to Wembley Arena.

Later, the oldest female torchbearer, 100-year-old grandmother Diana Gould, from Kenton, took the torch along The Burroughs in Hendon to Middlesex University, where she was greeted by Mayor of London Boris Johnson.