London 2012: the closing ceremony - in pictures

After a wonderful fortnight of sporting endeavour, the scene is set for the closing ceremony. It looks like the colours of the union flag will be underpinning the show Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: guardian.co.uk The London 2012 flame is still burning bright Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: guardian.co.uk The show begins with a countdown to 9 o'clock. Fittingly, there's a replica of Big Ben's tower at the heart of the stage alongside the London Eye and the Gherkin Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins Around them are hundreds of dancers and vehicles clad in newspaper outfits Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian Photograph: DAN CHUNG ... not to mention the horse guards Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins A very patriotic start Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins Soon the place is awash with colour Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins Suggs is one of the first musicians on stage, performing Our House with the rest of Madness Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins They're performing on the back of a lorry Photograph: Dan Chung/The Guardian Britain's most famous supermodels strut down the pathway - Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss included Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian Photograph: DAN CHUNG Not sure what's going on with the headgear here. Very peculiar. And very bright Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins An athlete from each nation makes their way into the stadium carrying their national flags Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins Ben Ainslie's found someone to carry his for him Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins And there's a huge burst of confetti to greet them Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins Those Mexicans have really got the human tower nailed Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins With the athletes surrounding them, the dancers perform with white cubes Photograph: Dan Chung/The Guardian They appear to be dismantling a block of gigantic sugar cubes Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins It's all gone rather violet Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian Photograph: DAN CHUNG George Michael gets a huge cheer from the crowd after his performance Photograph: Dan Chung/The Guardian These spectators look like they're enjoying it Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian Photograph: DAN CHUNG Now there's a big octopus shaped object on stage Photograph: Dan Chung/The Guardian Photograph: DAN CHUNG/Dan Chung for the Guardian Followed by the Spice Girls Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins They're being driven round on top of taxis while singing some of their old hits Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins Wonder if Bradley Wiggins is among these moped riders? Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian Photograph: DAN CHUNG/Dan Chung for the Guardian Brian May joins the action alongside a video of the late Freddie Mercury Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian Photograph: guardian.co.uk Eric Idle performs on stage with a comical routine in which he conspicuously escapes from a cannon, much to the amusement of the crowd Photograph: Dan Chung/The Guardian Photograph: guardian.co.uk As midnight approaches, there are some short speeches by the Olympic organisers including Seb Coe Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian Photograph: guardian.co.uk The Games are officially handed over to Rio, Brazil - a move heralded with a green and yellow firework spectacular Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian Photograph: Dan Chung Then the petals of the Olympic flame spread apart and the individual beacons of light are slowly extinguished Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins The night ends with a huge fireworks display ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins ... with the colours of the Union Jack shining through Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian Photograph: guardian.co.uk And in an apocalyptic flash, the London 2012 Olympic Games is over. Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian Photograph: guardian.co.uk