Double celebration in York as the Paralympic torch leads city's anniversary flotilla.
There was a double celebration on the River Ouse in York as the city commemorated its 800th anniversary and welcomed the Paralympic torch
The flame, carried in a miner's lamp by canoeists, led a flotilla of 200 boats through the city. The 'York 800' event was cancelled due to high river levels earlier this year. Thousands of people lined the Ouse to see the traditional vessels, and some that were a little more unusual.
2016 Paralympic hopeful Joshua Gardner and Paralympic Flame Bearer Liam Hirst were among the young people trying out Paralympic sports at the John Charles Centre for Sport in Leeds today.
8-year-old Evan Whitton brought the flame to Yorkshire yesterday Credit: PA
The Paralympic Flame will be appearing in Leeds ahead of the start of the London 2012 Paralympic Games next week. It will be the star attraction at a free celebration event at the John Charles Centre for Sport from 12noon to 2pm today.
The celebration event in Leeds, hosted by Leeds City Council and the Leeds Disability Sport Youth Panel, will involve more than 10 Paralympic sports being demonstrated for anyone to try.
The Paralympic flame has been collected from London by a special young man and brought back to Yorkshire. Evan Whitton who has cerebral palsy was the star of the flame lighting ceremony.
The 8-year-old from Silsden in West Yorkshire has defied doctors, who thought he'd spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Today though he walked tall to get that flame. Tina Gelder joined Evan and his family on their adventure to the capital.
Evan Whitton, 8, from West Yorkshire representing all 5 local authorities in Yorkshire holds the Flame during the lighting of the Paralympic Cauldron in Trafalgar Square, central London.
Eight-year-old Evan Whitton from Silsden in West Yorkshire is representing Yorkshire at the Paralympic Flame ceremony taking place in Trafalgar Square today.
Watch the video to see him meeting Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
