For the last 16 days the sport has been hard fought and serious, but last night it was party time in the Olympic Stadium as Britain said goodbye to London 2012.

As the world bade farewell to London, the host city gave the concert of a lifetime as stars such as Annie Lennox, The Spice Girls, Madness, Queen and Take That took to the stage.

The party marked the end of British sport's most successful Olympic Games in more than a century which saw a final medal tally of 64 - an incredible 29 golds, 16 silvers and 19 bronze. And Team GB was winning medals right up to the last minute.

After the Games showed off the best of British sport, the closing ceremony, attended by Prince Harry, was designed to show off the best of Britain's past and present music scene, culminating with a glimpse of the carnival that awaits in Rio in 2016.

Stars who appeared included the Pet Shop Boys, George Michael, Tinie Tempah and Jessie J, Kate Moss and Russell Brand and rock band, The Who.

The Olympic Flag was later lowered and the passed by London Mayor Boris Johnson to Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, who in turn presented it to Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes.

After speeches by Olympics supremo Lord Coe and Mr Rogge, the flame that reached all corners of the UK over 70 days was extinguished - and the Games were over.