THE Paralympic flame will be lit at Stoke Mandeville Stadium in less than 90 minutes’ time.

It will be created when all four National Flames – lit in London, Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh – come together to make one big flame ahead of the Paralympics’ opening ceremony tomorrow night.

The flame will leave the stadium at 8pm before travelling on to Stoke Mandeville Hospital – considered the birthplace of the Paralympic Games – before going through Aylesbury and on to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford.

Among those carrying the torch on the first leg of its journey is Prestwood athlete Nikki Emerson, who just missed the final cut for Team GB.

The former Wycombe Abbey school pupil said: “I’m excited – my whole family have come to watch, although one of them said ‘I’m going to be there to see you set fire to yourself’.

“I heard I was nominated but didn’t hear anything else for ages. I was really excited when I heard. I wasn’t selected for the team so it’s nice to have something to do.”

She said she was disappointed to miss out on the squad but added: “I’m young enough for Rio so it’ll be nice to be able to enjoy these games, which I know is a terrible thing for an athlete to say, but I’m enjoying taking in the atmosphere.”