Olympic Flame arrives in style with help from Telford airman

A Royal Marine airman from Telford helped to deliver the Olympic Flame to London in spectacular fashion.

Sergeant Warren Davies, 25, was part of a team of seven aircrew involved in a stunt which saw the Flame arrive in the capital in a dramatic abseil.

The Commando Helicopter Force aircrewman was in the second of two Sea King helicopters involved in the stunt at the Tower of London on Friday.

Sgt Davies is the brother of Royal Marine Damian Davies, who was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan in 2008.

The former Wrockwardine Wood School pupil and his two crewmates manoeuvred their 9.5 tonne helicopter into a 180ft hover above Tower Wharf, allowing Royal Marine Martyn Williams to abseil down to the wharf with the Flame strapped to his chest in its lantern. Once on the ground, Marine Williams handed the Flame on to Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes.

Sgt Davies said: "These are manoeuvres which require absolute concentration, pinpoint accuracy and precision timing."

He said it was 'a bit nerve-racking', adding: "It's hard enough when you are doing this in training, and especially in theatre, but to know we were escorting such an important load, as well as the fact that we were being filmed and photographed from all angles by the media adds in a whole different dimension to it all."