Liveblog: Olympic torch relay Rogate to Hove

9.05am The torch is just preparing to enter Sussex now, at Rogate on the Hampshire border, due at 9.08am.

Dominic Raeyen will be the first person to carry the torch in Sussex. From Rogate, the historic flame will pass through Midhurst and Duncton before heading down to Chichester.

Click here for our special section with a map, schedule, and details of the torchbearers. Pictures and videos will be added throughout the day.

Organisers are expecting 500,000 people to take to the streets of Sussex over the next 48 hours for one of the most spectacular events the county has ever seen – despite the threat of rain.

Where are you watching the torch relay? Tell us using the comment feature below.

Some housekeeping - those familiar with Argus liveblogs will realise that we are not using our usual Cover It Live format. This means that comments are *not* pre-moderated, and you need to register to leave one.

It also means that for today, the liveblogger will not automatically be alerted when you comment, so it may take a bit longer to answer any questions, but we will check them regularly.

Don't forget you can follow Olympic tweets in Sussex by using the #SussexTorch hashtag (tweets will be shown above, and just below the liveblog).

You can send pictures and video to 80360 starting your message with the keyword SUPIC , or from your Facebook account:
via our online form , or by emailing picture.desk@theargus.co.uk .

9.23am More housekeeping - our photographers are on the ground all day, but as they're busy taking pictures (and the signal to send them back to the office is a very patchy while on the move) we're unlikely to get ours back until later today.

However, our photographer Liz Finlayson tells us that there is a Facebook rumour that David Beckham will be carrying the torch round Arundel. True or false? You decide . . .

9.30am Nick Keith has posted a picture of the torch in Rogate - Click here to see it .

9.39am Sussex Police says the torch is now "slowly moving out of Midhurst. Traffic is now starting to move again through the centre."

9.40am Steve Weller has posted this video of the torch being transferred to Steve Trucking in Rogate . Unfortunately, I can't view it from here, so I have no idea how good the quality is, sorry!

9.48am Sussex Police says the torch is now in Easebourne: "The weather is wet and blustery but not putting off the crowds."

9.51am @angelmidhurst has just tweeted this picture of the torch arriving in Midhurst .

10am Sussex Police warns that traffic is moving slowly through the village square as Petworth awaits the arrival of the torch‬ convoy.

10.30am The torch has now passed through Tillington and has arrived in Petworth. Chichester District Council says: "Large crowds waiting to greet it!"

10.36am The first of our pictures has arrived from Liz Finlayson. Click here to see them - more will be added as we get them.

10.49am The torch is now in Petworth.

10.55am My colleague Sarah Booker has created a Storify of the torch, collating tweets about the relay, here .

10:55am Sussex Police says the Olympic Torch convoy is now in Duncton Village and the flame is about six minutes behind.

11.09am Rebecca Cooney, who is with us on work experience, has just spotted that Eddie Izzard has tweeted he will be running with the torch through his hometown of Bexhill tomorrow . Probably our best known celebrity torchbearer? (Sorry Sally Gunnell and Robin Cousins . . .). According to a De La Warr Pavilion press release , he will be running with it past the Marina at about 5.30pm. It adds that the torch itself is designed by Barber & Osgerby, who were the design team commissioned to create the orange De La Warr Pavilion chairs.

11.16am Meanwhile, Sally Gunnell was racing from Barcelona to Bognor last night in time for her leg of the relay.

Sally, who won gold in the 400m hurdles at the 1992 Games, will carry the torch from Orchard Way onto Shripney Road in the town at 2.44pm.

The 45-year-old, who is originally from Essex, now lives in Steyning.

A spokeswoman for Sally said: “She’s only running for some 350 yards but it’s a huge privilege for her and I am sure there will be plenty of people cheering her on.”

11.32 We've had a bit of a break for the last half hour, as after the flame left Duncton at about 11am, it then travelled on its own to Chichester, where it's due to arrive at 11.38am . In the meantime, there's loads of pictures from Midhurst now on our first picture gallery here .

11.38am Sussex Police says that judging by the CCTV, Chichester is looking very busy already, despite the fact the torch is not arriving in the city centre itself until 1.07pm.

11.58pm Sussex Police confirms the torch has arrived in Chichester.

11.59am One of the Hove runners this evening, 87-year-old Sylvia Baker, has come up with a novel way of training for bearing the torch.

Sylvia has been trying to get used to the weight and dimensions of the torch by pacing round her garden with a broom held aloft.

She will be carrying the torch at 6.22pm tonight, along Grand Avenue.

12.03pm Councils across Sussex are preparing to spend at least £130,000 on events to celebrate the Olympic Torch Relay.

Figures show spending ranges from £1,150 in Rother to up to £40,000 in Hastings and £30,000 in Brighton.

In Crawley, where the torch will arrive on July 17, £5,400 is being spent on decorattions.

The council said another £4,000 would be spent on the route and would include the hire of road signage, cones, general safety equipment, mobile entertainment for the crowds and first aid services from St John Ambulance.

12.17pm Visit Eastbourne has announced this morning that Brighton hip hop duo Rizzle Kicks will be carrying the torch through Eastbourne tomorrow . The torch is arriving in the town at 3.18pm.

12.24pm Louise McDonald has tweeted this picture of the torch travelling through Chichester:

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12.32pm Another Chichester torch pic, this time of a great welcome sign , from Ivan Western.

1pm Sussex Police tweets that the torch is getting ready to leave Chichester Festival Theatre after its lunch break. Meanwhile, the Smash EDO demo at Home Park Farm is also due to kick off around about now .

1.10pm Our photographer Simon Dack is just back from Home Farm Road. He says there are "about 40 police vehicles" along with dogs and barriers ready to meet the demonstrators, who were due to start their protest at The Level 10 minutes ago.

1.35pm Spallerina has posted this picture of the torch travelling along East Street in Chichester :

1.31pm Sussex Police says :"Bognor High Street is busy - to get a view of the Olympic Torch‬ go to Longford Road, Canada Grove and The Queensway where they are no crowds."

1.44pm Sally Gunnell has just tweeted this picture of all her fellow torchbearers as they prepare to carry the flame through Bognor :

1.51pm Smash EDO has just tweeted its protest is on the move down Lewes Road.

2.13pm Smash EDO appears to have reached the EDO factory in Home Farm Road . I'm sure the police are very happy to see them.

2.17pm Another housekeeping note - our backoffice web admin system is due to undergo a major overhaul at about 2.30pm today. Our secretive webmaster overlords tell us the admin is likely to be down for about 5 minutes, during which time we won't be able to update the website.

Meanwhile, here's a picture of some knights in shining armour waiting for the torch to arrive in Arundel:

2.29pm Brighton and Hove Buses reports that a huge swathe of its services have been affected by the Smash EDO demo, and an incident on the A27 near Hangleton .

2.51pm  And we're back in. Here's a picture of Gabriella Broadhurst carrying the Olympic Flame in heavy rain between Bognor Regis and Westergate - picture by PA:

2.55pm 10 minutes ago, Sussex Police reported that Olympic medallist Sally Gunnell had just finished her run‬ in Shripney Road Bognor. The relay was then exiting Bognor.

2.57pm And here's a picture of a woman waiting for the torch to arrive in Worthing - where it's not due until about 4.30pm. This was taken by Catherine O'Hara at about 2.10pm. 

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3.02pm Sally Gunnell has tweeted: "A very amazing moment ‪#torchrelay‬ up there as one of the best ‪#eveninrain‬."

3.04pm A video of one of the torch handovers at South Bersted from Jim Bailey on YouTube: 

3.25pm The torch is due in Arundel any minute, and anticipation is building. Argus reporter Peter Truman says: "Excitement increases as it looks as though torch is coming. Police bike with flashing lights is all I can see at the moment."

3.27pm A picture by our photographer Sam Stephenson of the Smash EDO protest in Lewes Road earlier today. 

3.36pm The torch is at Arundel Castle - Peter Truman reports: "Huge screams as #sussextorch is lit next to Arundel Castle."

4.02pm -  Kirsty Stimpson has taken this picture of Sally Gunnell being handed the flame by Michael Bevis-Lacey in Bognor earlier today . Michael, 17,  has overcome a tough start in life to excel in athletics . 

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4.10pm Argus photographer Simon Dack has just tweeted this camera picture of people queueing in the rain for the celebrations tonight in Hove: 

4.12pm The torch is now moving again in Arundel, according to Sussex Police. 

4.16pm Argus reporter Ben James has just sent in this great picture of crowds on the top floors of Teville Gate car park in Worthing hoping to catch a glimpse of the torch when it arrives in the town shortly:

4.21pm Reporter Tim Ridgway has tweeted this pic of Cory Davis, 18, and Dan O'Neil, 18, at Hove, who are wearing animal costumes.They're excited about seeing Rizzle Kicks tonight. 

4.29pm Reporter Tim Ridgway is at the cricket ground - he says there's about 1,000 people there already, with 10,000 ticketholders due to turn upin total. It's quite soggy underfoot, but there's a lot to do. At one end there's three stages, and at the other end there's a main stage with a cauldron on it, which will be lit with the Olympic flame tonight. 

Katie Lambert, 16, ran with the torch in Tillington this morning. She said everyone was cheering and shouting as she was carrying it down the road for about 300m. She said: "I did a little hop and a skip as I went down the way and got through it on adrenaline really.

"It's amazing to think the flame I was carrying has come all the way from Greece. There will be a special place on our mantlepiece for the torch."

4.36pm  Latest from the Smash EDO demo - there have been at least three arrests. Sussex Police said: "Around 60-70 protesters arrived at Home Farm Road at about 3pm. Five of them locked themselves to some temporary barriers that were inserted to maintain the integrity of the site.

"We are mindful of the appalling weather conditions and the disruption that this could potentially cause and intend to take action to remove them but we must ensure that we do so safely so that no one is physically put at risk.
"Protest Liaison Officers continue to attempt to liaise with the other protesters. At this stage, there have been no other issues."

Here is reporter Ben Parson's picture of a wall the police erected to stop the protesters reaching the EDO factory. 

4.45pm More from Tim at Hove:

Kim Fryer, a teacher at Benfield Primary school in Hove attended with her two sons, Nemo, 10, and Ferdinand, 8.

She said "we're so excited. We literally live just around the corner so it's great the torch is so local.
"the boys are very excited about seeing Rizzle Kicks."

4.51pm Ben James has sent us this video of Worthing residents getting ready to welcome the torch: 

4.54pm Ben James has also sent in this video of Nigel Wrapson taking the flame from Sally Ricketts in Worthing earlier. 

In 1999, Nigel Wrapson didn’t think he would ever walk again – let alone run with the Olympic torch.
The then 31-year-old lay motionless on a hospital bed in Barbados having just broken his neck in a freak swimming accident.
It was touch and go as to whether he would walk again, but he vowed to his girlfriend – now wife – that if he did make it he would run the London marathon.
Not only did the British Airways worker achieve the amazing feat – he has now completed four of them.
Picking up different charities along the way, the 44-year-old has raised thousands for good causes.
He told The Argus: “It’s just what you do. They wouldn’t let me fly back to England to have the operation so I had it there.
“I have so much respect for the doctors and nurses at that hospital and decided I wanted to give something back.”
Among the various good causes he has helped are spinal injury charity Aspire and Motor Neurone Disease charities.
He said: “I am excited but also a little nervous.    I’ve been having some strange dreams about it – not that I drop it or anything, more that I get handed the torch and then before I know it I’ve finished.
“Let’s hope today can fill in those blanks.”

4.58pm Ben James has recorded this Audioboo interview with youngsters Jack and Evey Dann and Josh, Zach and Jenna Richards as they got ready for the torch in Worthing:

5.10pm Sussex Police reports: "The torchbearer is moving slowly down Steyne Gardens and the crowds are still really deep."

5.13pm Ben James tweets that the torch is now going past the Aquarena. 

5.22pm Photographer Tony Wood has just wired in this amazing picture of the torch passing through the crowds in Arundel:

4.58pm 

5.25pm More from Tim Ridgway at Hove: Alex Marini, 31, of Holmes Avenue, hove, got her mum Paula to queue for evening celebration tickets.

Her and a group of friends, including Jenna Duffield, 25, of Eastern Road, Brighton, made t-shirts and their own medals to mark the occasion.
Alex said: "we started queueing at 1pm to make sure we got front row seats."

Brighton Kemptown MP Simon Kirby said: "it's so great for the city to be part of it as the torch relay represents all that's good about our country."

Michael Prodger, 65, of Holmes Avenue, Hove, only got tickets this week when he went to a community meeting.
He said: "its quite something. It goes without saying but I'm pleased the weather is holding."

5.33pm Tim reports that things have just kicked off at Hove: He said: "Lots of flags and othe things being waved."

Bill Gardner is in The Drive, Hove, waiting for the torch to arrive. He has just spoken to Anthony Baker, 90, whose 87-year-old wife Sylvia is carrying the torch today. 

He said: "It's a bit cold, but I can't wait for her to arrive. She really deserves it." Grandson Ben, keeping Anthony company, said: "Grandad would have run too, but he thinks it's a bit cold."

5.57pm The torch is arriving in Hove imminently. Bill Gardner filmed this live footage from his phone of people singing in Hove Park waiting for its arrival: 

6.01pm Bill is still in Hove Park. He says: "There's high winds and high spirits here as thousands of people await the arrival of the torch. Whistles are being blown, flags waved and you can cut the tension with a knife."

6.09pm Sussex Police says the torch is now coming through West Blatchington on its way to Hove Park. A little late, but going strong again now. 

6.12pm A nice picture from Ben James taken in Worthing earlier - the rowing club prepares its own guard of honour:

6.21pm Claire Potter has taken this picture of the torch in Hove:

6.24pm Bill Gardner has taken these videos of the Hove travelling through Hove: 

6.33pm  Update on the Smash EDO demo - ten arrests, nine under the Public Order Act and one for an alleged breach of bail conditions.. In total, 150 officers were deployed, some from outside the county. More here . 

6.39pm Rizzle Kicks are now on stage in Hove Park. Laurence Bresh says they're keeping the crowd entertained while they wait for the torch . 

Ben James has just tweeted that the early estimate for the number of people watching in Worthing and Lancing is an incredible 80,000. 

6.48pm Sussex Police reports that the final torchbearer, Karen West, is now taking the torch towards the main stage at the cricket ground. 

6.57pm The cauldron has now been lit with the Olympic flame on stage at the cricket ground in Hove. 

7.20pm  Tim Ridgway took this picture of Karen West, 60, a nurse from Worthing lightings the Olympic cauldron at Sussex County Cricket Ground in Hove.

7.30pm Don't miss 19 pages of Olympic torch relay coverage in tomorrow's Argus (July 17), including 16 pages of pictures taken today. The live blog starts again from Pavilion Gardens, Brighton, at 7am.