The Paralympic flame has been lit by two British athletes in Stoke Mandeville at the start of its journey to the Paris 2024 games.

Helene Raynsford and Gregor Ewan, British Paralympians, lit up the flame during the official ceremony in the village which is widely considered the birthplace of the Paralympic Games.

Ms Raynsford was the first-ever Paralympic champion in Para rowing at the Beijing 2008 Games, while Mr Ewan is a three-time Paralympian in wheelchair curling.

The lighting ceremony will go down in history as the start of a new tradition introduced this year by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as from now on, the Paralympic flame will always start its journey in Stoke Mandeville.

This is part of efforts by the IPC, ParalympicsGB, and WheelPower, aiming to increase global awareness of the foundational role Stoke Mandeville and Sir Ludwig Guttmann played in the birth and development of the Paralympic Movement.

The German neurologist Sir Ludwig Guttmann organised in 1948, while the London Olympic Games were taking place, a sporting competition to help the veterans of the Second World War with spinal cord injuries to recover.

The first official Paralympic Games were hosted for the first time in Rome in 1960 and have been held every four years since then.

The Paralympics this year will take place from August 28 to September 8 in the French capital and nearby sites.

Ms Raynsford, also chair of the ParalympicsGB Athlete Commission, said: “Words cannot describe the honour of being chosen to light the Paralympic flame alongside Gregor at the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement.

“It will be a very special moment ahead of what will be a spectacular Paralympic Games.”

Mr Ewan, who won bronze at his Paralympic debut in Sochi 2014, said: “Stoke Mandeville is such an integral part of the fabric of the Paralympic Movement, and I am so excited to be chosen for this extremely special occasion.”

IPC president Andrew Parsons was the first torchbearer of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Torch Relay, running a short circuit of the Stoke Mandeville athletics track after the flame was lit.

He said: "For everyone involved in the Paralympic Movement, Stoke Mandeville represents sacred and cherished ground, it is here 76 years ago that the visionary pioneer Sir Ludwig Guttmann created the Paralympic Movement.

“By organizing a sport event for 16 injured Word War two veterans – using para sport as a form of rehabilitation – Guttmann started something very special.

“Little did he know that what he created here in 1948 would go on to become on of the world’s biggest sport events.

"The Paralympic Games is now a spectacular showcase of sport, and event that attracts billions of global TV viewers, and the only worldwide event of impact which puts persons with disabilities front and centre.”

Tony Estanguet, president of Paris 2024, said: "As we celebrate the lighting of the Paralympic Flame and the origins of the Paralympic Movement here in Stoke Mandeville, it’s exciting to know that the first-ever summer Paralympic Games in France are now just around the corner.

“Over the coming days, the Flame will travel all over France as we build towards an unprecedented opening ceremony on the Place de la Concorde, a symbolic venue in the heart of Paris that will set the tone for magical and meaningful Paralympic Games.”