The seven year wait is over - the Olympics officially begin today.

It's estimated a billion people around the world will be watching tonight, as London 2012 gets underway. 

Organisers promise the opening ceremony - directed by Danny Boyle - will be spectacular but it's been kept top secret.

Plymouth service personnel have joined in with a mass bell ringing this morning to launch the games.

Bells rang out at churches across the country at twelve minutes past eight this morning, at HMS Raleigh, Devonport Naval base and onboard Plymouth based ships HMS Bulwark and Ocean.

Bulwark is providing security for the sailing in Weymouth, while Ocean is moored in Greenwich.

Meanwhile, the Olympic torch is completing its 70-day, 8000 mile journey around the UK.

It will travel down the Thames towards the Olympic stadium ahead of tonight's opening ceremony. 

Yesterday, Plymouth navy medic Kate Nesbitt took the flame to Downing Street.

The 22 year old became the first woman in the Navy to be awarded the Military cross in 2010 after braving gunfire to treat a wounded colleague in Afghanistan.