Olympic Torch Bearer A Window Cleaner

High-rise window cleaner Richard Jackson abseiled from the top of The Sage Gateshead carrying the Olympic flame. Click to enlarge.

Olympic torch carried down The Sage Gateshead: Hundreds of on-lookers gathered at the scene at 7am to watch him make his descend from The Sage’s roof to the ground below. The 44-year-old, who works for Isis Property Services, said: "I was so proud to have been a torch bearer for the Olympics. It was a great honour to hold the flame as I abseiled down The Sage."

The Olympic torch descending from The Sage building in Gateshead. Click to enlarge.

Olympic Torch's descent with window-cleaning abseiler: The Olympic Torch made its way down the face of The Sage building in Gateshead in the hands of abseiler Richard Jackson this morning. Mr Jackson, from Seaton Sluice, is no stranger to the feat - he's one of the window-cleaning team! He was cheered on by his wife Sian, and hundreds of spectators. He said he was praying for a dry sunny daybreak but he was equally prepared for the rain, having practised in all weather conditions. He had even rehearsed his stunt carrying a length of pipe in his right hand in place of the torch. He told ITV News' Ian Payne: "Flames and ropes don't mix so I had one eye on the torch, one eye on the ropes, one eye on my feet and one eye on the public! "I couldn't really take it all in - it was an amazing feeling and I'll reflect on it later with a lot of pride".

Richard Jackson - a man with a steady hand. Click to enlarge.

The torch being handed over when back on the ground. Click to enlarge.