PROUD Widnes athlete Mark Allen carried the Paralympic flame today through the sterets of London.

The 40-year-old who has cystic fibrosis and received a double lung transplant in 2005, was nominated by his mum, Maureen.

Mark, of Deirdre Avenue, a press officer for Halton Council said: “I was so proud to carry the flame on the day of the Paralympics opening ceremony, by the Lords Cricket Ground.

“I was lucky enough to be at Super Saturday and saw Jessica Ennis, Mo Farrah and Greg Rutherford get their gold medals which was phenomenal, so I have caught the Olympic bug and am really looking forward to the Paralympics.

Mark was chosen to take part in today’s relay which sees the torch make its journey from Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire to the Olympic Park in a 24-hour relay.

Mark is a gold, silver and bronze medallist at the European and British Transplant Games, where he competes in table tennis and javelin.