Millions of people will be tuning in to the Olympics over the next two weeks but Walter Humphreys has a special reason for watching.

The 79-year-old was one of the torch-bearers for the 1948 games, which were the last held in England.

He was picked to carry a torch for two-and-a-quarter miles during the Olympic flame's journey to the opening ceremony.

Mr Humphreys, who lives at Prinsted, near Chichester, was a member of a Surrey athletics club when the Olympics Commission was looking for candidates to carry the flame across the country.

He said: "I was a member of the local athletics club and they were all invited to submit names of runners to be selected by the committee.

"I happened to have a championship cup for the season so they selected me.

"In 1948 we were officially invited and had to go up to London to a meeting where everything was explained to us.

"We were told we had to try and maintain a certain pace and hold the torch a certain distance away from the body so it could be seen.

"We all had a police escort and it was quite an honour to be able to do that sort of thing."

Mr Humphreys, who was 27 at the time, said: "I ran from the Kent-Surrey border for two-and-a-quarter miles and then passed the flame to a colleague who then handed it on to someone else.

"You naturally felt it was an honour and quite a lot of people came out to watch."

Britain went on to win three gold medals in rowing and yachting at the 1948 games although the U.S.dominated with 38 golds.

It was the first Olympics since 1936 when Hitler hijacked the Berlin games and used it as a Nazi propaganda vehicle.

Germany, Japan and the Soviet Union did not take part in the games, which were marked by post-war austerity and not held in a specially-designed stadium but at venues including London, Henley and Cowes.

Mr Humphreys said: "Each country has its own design for the torch and each runner was allowed to keep their's and I've still got mine. We all had a little moment of fame and recognition."

Mr Humphreys never became a professional athlete and instead became a surveyor. He is now retired but is keenly following the games which are being held in Sydney, Australia.

He said: "We still have some hopes, in events like the 100 metres we stand a medal chance although I wouldn't say a gold."