THE Olympic boat that carried the torch on the last leg of its journey for London 2012 is to go under the hammer.

Designed by Hampshire boat firm ICE Marine the Bladerunner “Torchbearer”

was a major part of the opening ceremony and is expected to achieve £250,000 when it is auctioned at Bonhams on Monday December 3.

An estimated 900 million people watched footballer David Beckham pilot the boat, pictured – created by Winchester man Jeremy Watts’s, firm – as it went down the River Thames.

Tim Schofield, director of the Bonhams UK Motor Car department, said: “After a fantastic summer of British sporting success, Bonhams is proud to offer for sale the ultimate souvenir from the Olympic opening ceremony – what has been dubbed ‘the greatest show on earth’.