The Olympic flame is
handed over in Hythe. Picture: Wayne McCabe

The Olympic torch has sailed into Dover ahead of evening
celebrations after a second day on the road across Kent.

Huge crowds greeted the flame as it arrived by tall ship,
battling high winds and choppy conditions, at about
5.30pm.

The 61st day of the torch relay is to capped off with an
evening of entertainment on the seafront after it is
carried to the top of Dover Castle.

The final torchbearer of the day will be Graeme Faber, who was
at the 1948 Olympic opening ceremony in London as a youngster.

The 76-year-old, who has run marathons and climbed moutains
for charity, will light the Olympic cauldron with a backdrop
of the famous White Cliffs of Dover.

Around 12,000 people are expecting for an evening
celebration, on Marine Parade, which kicked off with entertainment
from 5.30pm.

A performance from hip hop duo Rizzle Kicks is due to start at 6.45pm as well as from community groups before a huge fireworks display at 9.45pm.

The Olympic torch arrives
in Dover by tall ship. Picture: Jess Banham

The flame spent the afternoon making its way along the south
coast - passing towns, villages and cheering spectators along the
way.

After a lunch break in Ashford, the relay passed through Hythe,
Sandgate and Folkestone before reaching the entrance to the Channel
Tunnel.

Two Eurotunnel trains were cancelled at about 3pm so the
flame could be transported underground to Samphire
Hoe.

just arrived in dover to see the olympic flame this evening, then (one more sleep) carrying the #olympictorch tomorrow in ramsgate 10.30am

— steve backley(@steve_backley) july 18, 2012

It was then carried to Dover's Western Docks at just
after 4.40pm to be taken out on an RNLI rescue boat.

The flame was handed over to a tall ship while in the Channel
before being brought into Dover after around seven hours on the
road.

Video: A round-up of
the second day of the Olympic torch relay in Kent

Thousands of cheering spectators launched the day's fun
when they turned out at the start of the flame's second day in
the county in Hamstreet this morning.

Many flag-waving fans arrived several hours before the
relay began in the village at 10.30am ahead of a long
route through the county.

Crowds gather as a
torchbearer runs through Folkestone (top), where young and old
gathered. Pictures: Wayne McCabe and Gary Brown

Folkestone was jam-packed with onlookers who
cheered as the Olympic torch passed through the town at about
2pm.

Residents in Sandgate Road even cheered from their
balconies and windows, draping out Union flags.

Torchbearer Rebecca Simon was watched by her proud mother
Marietta Simon and her brother Marton.

Marietta said: "We were lucky to be at the spot where she handed
over the flame. We are so proud of her."

Another spectator was Mavis Frost, 83, of Cherry Garden Avenue,
Folkestone, who had also witnessed the passing of the Olympic torch
through Kent for the 1948 London Olympic games.

She said: "I never thought I would live to see this again. It is
so exciting. This time I think this procession is better. It is
much more colourful and modern. In those days they didn’t even have
buses on the entourage."

The Rev Sam Funnell, of Folkestone Methodist Church, said: "This
has been a very exciting day. The police have been especially
lovely with the kids. Officers on motorbikes have been chatting to
them and giving them high fives. We have been busy here giving free
teas and coffees to spectators."

Luke Quilter (top) was
among the torchbearers in Folkestone, where crowds turned out in
force. Picture: Wayne McCabe

A smattering of rain failed to dampen the enthusiasm for the
Olympic torch in Hythe shortly after 1pm.

Thousands of people lined the route from the starting point in
London Road right through the town - with some of the biggest
crowds in Military Road.

Among the torchbearers was Luke Quilter, 29, who lives in the
town. He is managing director of the Folkestone-based marketing
agency Sleeping Giant Media.

Currently Kent’s young entrepreneur of the year, he is a board
member of the Kent Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs.

Other torchbearers through Hythe included Andrew Sunderland, 28,
and Graham Cooper, 68, both from New Romney.

Among those lining the route were all 220 pupils of Saltwood
Primary School.

Torchbearer Lynne Oliver,
pictured top, carries the flame in Ashford town centre,
where spectators turned out in force. Picture: Gary Browne

Crowds up to six deep gathered to welcome the
torch in Ashford.

The route along Elwick Road, Bank Street and the High Street was
packed with school children and residents who applauded and cheered
as the convoy passed at just after 11am.

The torchbearers then carried the flame through town centre and
down Hythe Road to the North School, at Essella Road, for a
lunchtime break.

Ashford MP Damian Green, who watched the procession from the
bandstand in the High Street, said: "It was amazing. It was
genuinely a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for Ashford.

"I've never seen so many people and flags in the town centre.
Ashford has shown itself at its best today."

Children lined the street waving flags from around the world as
the relay left Ashford's North School at about 12.35pm.

It made an unscheduled stop outside Sellindge
Primary School so pupils could see the Olympic lantern and an unlit
torch up close

Torchbearer Ben
Afforselles, from Hamstreet, running through the village. Picture:
Wayne McCabe

In Hamstreet, the biggest cheer went to
torchbearer Ben Afforselles, from the village.

The 44-year-old has two Guinness World records for fastest
marathons in fancy dress - while dressed as a leprechaun and
Viking.

Crowds lined the streets three or four deep with many local
schools taking the morning off for the procession.

"It is wonderful, I had no idea the crowds would be so
big," said Ben.

Many schools took the
morning off so children, such as those pictured top, could see
torchbearers such as Nirav Patel, pictured above, in Hamstreet.

KentOnline reporter Tricia Jamieson, who saw the flame pass
through Hamstreet, said: "It's been absolutely fantastic here.
Thousands of people have come out onto the streets - they're
cheering, there're waving and they're really excited about the
whole thing.

"It's great for the village and great for the county that so
many people are coming out to support this.

"It's been a really fantastic atmosphere. It's been a great
start to the day and I'm sure it will continue wherever it
goes."

The Olympic flame is back in Kent today after a fleeting visit yesterday, when it was in Tunbridge Wells for about half-an-hour before Dame Kelly Holmes carried the torch at Tonbridge Castle.

Dame Kelly Holmes with
the Olympic torch at Tonbridge Casle. Picture: Matthew Walker

Among those on home soil today will be two coaches carrying
a rather special load.

Hythe-based Buzzlines Travel has supplied a team of six drivers
and two buses to accompany the entire 8,000-mile Olympic torch
journey.

The coaches carry Olympics officials, security personnel - and
spare flames.

The vehicle carrying the essential supplies of extra
torches in case of emergency can be seen directly behind the
torchbearers, as in the picture below.

Giovanni Merlo hands over
the flame to Patrick Collins in Tunbridge Wells

The Olympic torch is on a four-day tour Kent until
Friday.

Tomorrow, it will visit Deal, Sandwich, Ramsgate, Broadstairs,
Margate, Canterbury and Maidstone before an evening celebration at
Leeds Castle.

Don't forget to follow our coverage for the rest of this
week.

Our reporting team includes video, audio and text reporters,
plus photographers taking pictures along the route.

To follow all the action - as it happens - see our interactive
map, videos and pictures.

Olympic torch street-by-street route - Day 2

10:30 Hamstreet - Hamstreet Rd From Sign for

Hamstreet village

The Street

Ashford Rd To Hamstreet CP Primary Sch Junction

CONVOY: Hamstreet - Ashford

10:49 Ashford Wotton Rd From Ellingham Way

Junction- Right Turn

Kingsnorth Rd

Kingsnorth Rd- Right Turn

B2229 Beaver Rd- Left Turn

Beaver Rd

A2042 Beaver Rd- Left Turn

A292 Elwick Rd

A292 Elwick Rd- Right Turn

Bank St

High Street

High Street- Left Turn

A292 Wellesley Rd- Right Turn

A292 Mace Lane

A292 Hythe Rd

A292 Hythe Rd- Right Turn

Essella Rd- Right Turn

Crew Break

Essella Rd- Right Turn

A292 Hythe Rd To Leys Rd Junction

Click on the picture
above to view our interactive Olympic torch map

CONVOY: Ashford - Hythe

13:06 Hythe A261 London Rd From Turnpike Hill
Junction

Hythe A261 Military Rd

A259 Prospect Rd

A259 Prospect Rd- Right Turn

A259 East St

Hythe A259 Seabrook Rd

13:46 Sandgate A259 Sandgate Esplanade

A259 Sandgate High St

14:02 Folkestone A259 Sandgate Hill

A259 Sandgate Rd

A2033 Sandgate Rd

Sandgate Rd

Sandgate Rd- Right Turn

Church St- Left Turn

Rendevous St- Right Turn

Bayle St- Left Turn

Old High St - Left Turn

A260 Tontine St

A2033 Dover Rd

A260 Dover Rd

A260 Hill Rd

A260 Hill Rd- Left Turn To RA 2nd Exit

CONVOY: Folkestone - Samphire Hoe

16:03 Samphire Hoe forecourt From Service
Tunnel

Samphire Hoe Eurotunnel forecourt- Left Turn

Samphire Hoe Eurotunnel forecourt- Right Turn

Samphire Hoe Eurotunnel forecourt- Left Turn

Samphire Hoe Access Road- Left Turn

Samphire Hoe car park

Samphire Hoe car park roundabout

Samphire Hoe car park roundabout- Left Turn

Samphire Hoe nature reserve path

Samphire Hoe access road- Left Turn

Samphire Hoe Samphire Hoe To Samphire Hoe access Rd

CONVOY: Samphire Hoe - Dover

18:08 Dover Prince of Wales Pier From Rescue

Boat

Dover Pier forecourt

Dover Port forecourt

Union St

Dover Esplanade- Right Turn

Snaregate Street

A20 Snaregate Street- Left Turn

A256 York Rd

A256 High St- Right Turn

Ladywell

Ladywell- Right Turn

A256 Maison Dieu Rd

A256 Maison Dieu Rd- Left Turn

A258 Castle Hill Rd

Dover Castle lane

Dover Castle lane- Right Turn

Constable's Rd- Left Turn

Gatehouse Lane

Gatehouse Lane- Left Turn

West Norman Rd- Right Turn

Gangway

Outer Dover Castle forecourt

Dover Castle

Dover Castle roof

Dover Castle

Outer Dover Castle forecourt

Gangway- Left Turn

West Norman Rd- Right Turn

Constable's Rd- Left Turn

A258 Castle Hill Rd

Castle St

Castle St

King St

Dover Live Site

Dover Live Site- Right Turn

King St

Pedestrian tunnel underpass

Cambridge Terrace pedestrian area

Pedestrian area- Left Turn

19:20 Dover Evening Celebration - Marine
Parade

Don't miss out on your personal souvenir of Kent's torch
relay.

Our 32-page supplement is being specially printed, and will be
out in the shops from first thing on Saturday.

It will feature the highlights of all four days of Kent's relay
- with loads of pictures of the once-in-a-lifetime event.

For just 50p, the supplement will be available in most
supermarkets and newsagents.

If you can't get hold of a copy and would like one, call our
team on FREEPHONE 0800 525450.