Essex born swimmer Mark Foster was 'honoured' to carry the Great Britain flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Foster, who started his career at the Borough of Southend SC, is competing in his fifth Olympic Games at the age of 38. 

He becomes the first swimmer to carry the Union Flag at an Olympic Opening Ceremony since Anita Lonsborough at the Tokyo Games in 1964.

He said: “I was blown away when I was told, it was a big surprise and a huge honour. It’s fantastic.

“Some of the most wonderful names in British sport have been Olympic flag-bearers.

“I really wanted to be picked but I didn’t totally believe I would be,” he added. “My heart was pumping when the announcement was made.

“Making the Olympic Games this time around was fantastic in itself, but this has really topped it off. It’s phenomenal.”