Welcome to the Wonderdrome: Spectacular Mad Max-style vision of Britain as Prince Edward enters stadium in a carriage made of second-hand cars

 

The Paralympics closing ceremony kicked off with a spectacular post-apocalyptic Mad Max-style invasion of the Olympic Stadium today.

Amid fire and smoke, performers drove in on dozens of British-made welded-together vehicles, burning bicycles and bizarre machines that looked straight out of Mel Gibson's classic 1979 dystopian action movie.

The outlandish performance for the Festival of the Flame also included a grand entrance by Prince Edward who entered the stadium in a chauffeur-driven carriage made out of second-hand cars.

It was followed by war hero Captain Luke Sinnott, who lost his legs and an arm in a blast on the battlefields of Helmand, climbing a flagpole and proudly flying the Union Flag.

Royal entrance: Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, arrives amid fire and smoke

Mad Max-style: The Paralympic Closing Ceremony opened with a sequence with a post-apocalyptic theme

Spectacular: A flaming figure of a cyclist enters the arena during the Closing Ceremony

Captain Sinnott provided an emotional and fitting end to the London games - hailed the best in history.

The courageous 32-year-old lost his limbs in 2010 after volunteering to search an area 'saturated' with improvised explosive devices to protect his comrades.

Organisers described his role in the ceremony as 'a supreme feat of strength and courage'.

 

Stephen Daldry, London 2012's executive producer for all the opening and closing ceremonies described the flag unveiling as 'devastatingly emotional'.

Capt Sinnott, a keen sailor, is working towards his dream of competing at the Rio 2016 Paralympics in a boat funded by Help for Heroes.

Comrades from the charity played a key role in the opening minutes of the ceremony to support Capt Sinnott.

Performers during the Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium

Captain Luke Sinnott, who lost a leg in Afghanistan, climbs to hang the Union Flag

Captain Sinnott provided an emotional and fitting end to the London games - hailed the best in history

The team joined forces to manoeuvre a heavy-wheeled machine to raise the flagpole.

Closing ceremonies artistic director Kim Gavin said: 'We worked quite hard since April to get their performance right - it is really their endeavour.

'It is really a team effort from their point of view and has been quite emotional when you go down there and have worked with them.

Performers rode in on dozens of British-made used vehicles, including this bike made out of recycled materials

Performers entertain the crowd as part of the pre-show entertainment

The opening sequence showed participants on their way to the ceremony, driving along Britain's roads to get to the stadium

'They are a fantastic bunch of people and they have been so collaborative as well.'

Fifty four drummers created an avenue through which the Earl of Wessex, representing the Queen, and International Paralympic Committee chairman Sir Philip Craven entered the stadium.

They arrived in a custom-built car that began life as a military vehicle used in Afghanistan and was driven by Captain Tony Harris, who lost his left leg below the knee when he was caught in a blast in Sangin, Afghanistan in 2009.

Flame-throwers light up the arena as part of the spectacular opening to the ceremony

Beyond thunderdome: A mechanical steamship circles the arena

The performance for the Festival of the Flame also included a grand entrance by Prince Edward who entered the stadium in a chauffeur-driven carriage made out of second-hand cars

Blind autistic singer Lissa Hermans, who also performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this year, sang the National Anthem.

The spectacular and moving ceremony was another display of creativity and British eccentricity, and featured global megastars Coldplay, Rihanna and Jay-Z.

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin said: 'Being asked to play at the closing celebrations for the Paralympic athletes in London is such a great honour for us.

A vehicle representing 'Clocks' circles the arena during the closing ceremony

Closing ceremonies artistic director Kim Gavin said: 'We worked quite hard since April to get their performance right - it is really their endeavour.'

The ceremony - named 'The Festival of the Flame' - included some stunning effects and over 1,000 performers

'It was one of the biggest nights of our lives and we were excited to try to create a performance for the last night of the games that closed London 2012 in style.'

Rihanna said: 'Being at the Paralympics is the biggest honour. These athletes are gladiators and are a true inspiration to me.'

The audience roared as Britain's joint flagbearers wheelchair racer David Weir and cyclist Sarah Storey, who each won four golds, were joined by athletes from each country.

Performers dressed in face paint and bizarre costumes wowed the crowd with their spectacular show

The ceremony - named 'The Festival of the Flame' - included some stunning effects and over 1,000 performers, including a cast of disabled artists, who had spent weeks learning circus skills for the show.

Soldier Rory Mackenzie, whose leg was blown off by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, praised Paralympians' 'indomitable human spirit.'

He told the crowd: 'Tonight we bring you the Festival of the Flame, the symbol of the spirit of the Games, which has burned bright at London 2012.

'Tonight we celebrate that spirit and although we have many differences, there is one quality we all share, one thing all of us have in common: human spirit.