THE eyes of the world may have been imagining the dreaming spires.

But residents of Blackbird Leys, Cowley and East Oxford yesterday showed their pride that there is so much more to Oxford.

Thousands of residents, waving flags and cheering, lined Cuddesdon Way and Blackbird Leys Road as the Olympic Torch made its way through the estate.

Lorna Stonehill, 58, from Sorrel Road, said: “It is brilliant, absolutely brilliant. It is wonderful for our estate that it is passing right through our community.”

Christine Sellar, 74, from Robin Place, added: “It could have gone anywhere, but it came through the Leys. We will never see anything like this again.”

Carrying the torch from the BMW Mini Plant, down Watlington Road and on to Cuddesdon Way shortly after 5.30pm was 46-year-old Ian Fowler from Witney.

He said: “It was incredible. It was more amazing than I could ever have imagined, the crowds were incredible.

“Even before I started, strangers were coming up to me and saying how great it was, and cheering me on.”

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith, who lives in Blackbird Leys, said: “I’m very proud to see the torch come through Blackbird Leys, it is amazing to see so many people out here today.”

Meanwhile the spirit of the Cowley Road Carnival was brought to life as thousands of people lined the East Oxford street to greet the Olympic Torch.

Crowds started to gather more than two hours before the torch, carried by Daybreak and Strictly Come Dancing star Dan Lobb.

But it was not until carnival band Sol Samba paraded along the road complete with samba drums and rhythms that the fiesta spirit began to spread to the crowd.

Restaurants spilled out on to the pavements, and revellers took the party outside on to their balconies above the colourful parade of shops, with music pumping loudly from windows.

The carnival, Oxfordshire’s biggest free public event, will not be taking place this year – and East Oxford was making up for it.

Bill Frizzell, 52, from the Donnington Bridge estate, said: “I’m enjoying it because it has such a carnival feeling – it’s very festive and it’s very Cowley Road Carnival.

“This is a replacement for Cowley Road Carnival which is sadly missing this year.”