Cherie Blair is to become an ambassador for London’s 2012 Olympic bid.

The prime minister's wife said: "I am delighted to be invited to join the team of ambassadors for the London 2012 bid team.

"I have always been a great supporter of the plan to bring the Olympic Games to London in 2012 and look forward to helping that aim become a reality."

A Downing Street spokesman added: "(Mrs Blair) is very pleased to have received the invitation to be an ambassador.

"She has been very supportive of the London bid and her visit to Athens over the weekend is a fact-finding mission to see the work involved behind the scenes and also to give her support to Team GB."