Olympics closing ceremony

A paramilitary police officer sets up a security barrier outside the National Stadium in Beijing Photograph: Oded Balilty/AP

Workers erect a giant drum ready for the closing ceremony Photograph: Bernd Thissen/EPA

Fireworks light up the sky as the countdown to the Games' finale ends Photograph: Wu Hong/EPA

Fireworks in the Bird's Nest stadium Photograph: Bernd Thissen/EPA

Performers take part in the closing ceremony Photograph: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

A drummer performs near the Olympic flame Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty

A performer participates in the closing ceremony Photograph: Michael Kappeler/AFP

Dancers during a closing ceremony performance Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty

Dancers during a closing ceremony performance Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty

Drummers perform in the stadium Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty

A close up of some of the performers in today's showpiece Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty

Entertainers perform during the closing ceremony Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP

Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah at the closing ceremony Photograph: Gabriel Bouys/AFP

Flagbearers representing countries from around the world Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty

Great Britain's Chris Hoy carries the flag Photograph: Gareth Copley/PA

The Union flag is raised next to the Chinese flag Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP

London's mayor Boris Johnson waves the Olympic flag Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP

Boris Johnson during the ceremony Photograph: John Giles/PA

A London bus is driven into the stadium Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty

The specially-designed double decker tours the stadium Photograph: Phil Walter/Getty

Leona Lewis performs during the closing ceremony Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty

Leona Lewis and Jimmy Page perform Whole Lotta Love in the stadium Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty

David Beckham kicks a ball into the crowd during the closing ceremony Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Participants perform during the closing ceremony Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Performers during the ceremony Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty

A close-up of performers on the 'memory tower' Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty

The festivities during the closing ceremony Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty

Crowds in London celebrate as they watch a screen showing events in Beijing Photograph: Lefteris Pitarakis/AP

People wave flags at the official Olympic Games handover party outside Buckingham Palace Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty