PyeongChang 2018: Paralympic Heritage Flame lit

The Paralympic Heritage Flame has been lit at a ceremony in Stoke Mandeville, the birthplace of the Movement, with a week to go until PyeongChang 2018.

A lone archer shot an arrow at the start of proceedings, a nod to the archery competition at the Stoke Mandeville Games in 1948, the forerunner of the Paralympic Games.

The archer launched the first in a sequence of fireworks, before the history of the Paralympic Movement and its links to Stoke Mandeville were highlighted.

Eight-time Paralympic equestrian gold medallist Sophie Christiansen took the Torch to the stage, where she was joined by fellow Paralympics GB athlete Ali Jawad.

The Rio 2016 silver medallist then lit the Heritage Flame, prompting another burst of fireworks.

The Flame will now be sent "virtually" to PyeongChang, where it is set to merge with a series of regional flames in South Korea.

These were lit in South Korea’s capital, Seoul; Jeju Island, Anyang, Nonsan, Gochang and Cheongdo.

The events coincided with the first full moon of the Lunar New Year and started a Torch Relay building towards the Opening Ceremony on March 9.

A total of 800 Torchbearers will carry the Torch to complete a total of 2,018 kilometres, marking the year of the Games.

PyeongChang 2018 takes place from 9-18 March. Tickets can be purchased here.