London 2012: Get ready for the greatest show on Earth, says David Cameron

David Cameron said the country must show the world 'the best of Britain' over the next two weeks (Getty Images)

Britain is ready to welcome “the greatest show on earth”, David Cameron said today.

Ahead of tonight's Olympic opening ceremony, the Prime Minister said the country must show the world "the best of Britain" over the next two weeks.

"We have got a great past, a very exciting future and this is a great moment for our country, so we must seize it," he told reporters in Downing Street.

"It's very exciting, I think there is a huge sense of excitement and anticipation because Britain is ready to welcome the greatest show on earth," Mr Cameron said.

"It's going to be an incredible few weeks for our country.

"It's a great opportunity to show the world the best of Britain, a country that's got an incredibly rich past but also a very exciting future.

"Someone asked me yesterday what face of Britain do we want to put forward - is it Blur or the Beefeaters? - and frankly it's both."

PA