Finish the Olympic party

Thousands of Olympic athletes and spectators are heading home after the London 2012 Games ended with a triumphant bang.

A world-wide audience was treated to a spectacular celebration of British music during the closing ceremony last night before the flame was extinguished to officially close the curtain on one of the most memorable sporting extravaganzas of recent times.

The skies above the Olympic Stadium were then lit up by a glittering firework display as the arena's packed stands joined in with a rousing rendition of The Who's My Generation.

As International Olympic Committee boss Jacques Rogge declared the 2012 Olympics closed, he said: "These were happy and glorious Games. We will never forget the smiles, the kindness and the support of the wonderful volunteers, the much-needed heroes of these Games.

In a guide to the ceremony, Prince Harry, who attended with the Duchess of Cambridge, said London 2012 had been an "extraordinary" event which had touched people's hearts and captured their imaginations. US president Barack Obama echoed that view, calling David Cameron to "congratulate him and the people of the United Kingdom and London on an extremely successful Olympic Games", the White House saidAfter the ceremony, Mr Johnson addressed Team GB athletes and told them he did not want to hand the Olympic flag back.