THE Olympic Torch was greeted by a wave of colour and samba rhythms as it made its way down Cowley Road in Oxford.

Greeted by the banging drums of Larkrise Primary School, Daybreak presenter Dan Lobb carried the torch into East Oxford before handing it over to the next torchbearer.

Crowds started building more than two hours before the torch was due to arrive, and by the time it appeared in a blaze of flag waving and samba rhythms, thousands were there to watch history being made.

Among those gathering were teacher Hannah Forder-Ball and her children Phoebe, four and Reuben, two.

She said: "We wanted them to enter into the spirit of the Olympics because it's a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"They were very excited. We talked to them about where the flames come from and they were very excited."

She said she was enjoying the atmosphere and added: "This is East Oxford at its best."