A CANCER survivor and award winning author joined Britain's athletes to carry the Olympic flame through London.

Megan Blunt, 16, from Billericay, was selected as a Beijing Olympic torchbearer by the Mayor of London's office because of her inspiration in the fight against cancer.

Megan, winner of the Child of Courage Award last year, carried the flame from Tooley Street to City Hall.

She said: "I didn't think anything could match being awarded a Child of Courage Award from JK Rowling at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, so I am thrilled and amazed to have been chosen as an Olympic torchbearer."

Megan was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2004, and chose to write a guide to surviving treatment called Chemotherapy, Cakes and Cancer.

She joined Essex star Denise Van Outen, Benfleet runner Kirste Snellgrove, and paralympic gold medalist Danny Crates in the relay yesterday.

Read the full story in the Echo tomorrow.