Bolt rockets back into London

Usain Bolt rode into the Olympic Stadium on a rocket on wheels as a bumper crowd got ready to relive London 2012 one year on.

The Jamaican was back at the venue when he became a self-professed "legend" by defending his 100, 200 and 4x100 metres titles for the three-day Sainsbury's Anniversary Games.

The feel-good factor of last summer was in full evidence around the Olympic Park as fans kitted out in London 2012 gear assembled in the sun.

Fans had queued up at the gates from the afternoon in the forlorn hope of getting tickets, with the 60,000 capacity stadium long since sold out for the event.

Bolt customarily makes grand entrances ahead of the action on the Diamond League circuit and there was no exception in London.

He lapped up the acclaim as he did a circuit of the track on board an adapted rocket, complete with Jamaican flag, with the Olympic stadium roar back to greet him.

After being grilled on the failed drug tests by his sprint rivals Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell at Thursday's press conference, and forced to defend his own record-breaking achievements, Bolt was no doubt looking forward to letting his legs to do the talking.

His 100m race, also featuring the newest British sprint star James Dasaolu, was the highlight of the programme, rounding off the action at 21:48.

It was the world's fastest man's first appearance on these shores outside of the Olympics since 2009, with Chancellor George Osborne granting a one-off exemption for overseas athletes taking part.

The 26-year-old was looking to set his fastest time of the season, which currently stands at a comparatively sluggish 9.94 seconds, ahead of next month's World Championships.