Picture of the Day: Up, up and away for 2012...

(Reuters)

Londoners woke up to the sound of music emanating from the skies this morning as seven orchestral hot air balloons soared above the capital, heralding one year to go to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

UK artist Luke Jerram's Sky Orchestra performance was a precursor to Wednesday's launch of the London International Festival of Theatre in Trafalgar Square – 12 months of cultural events and celebrations in the run-up to and beyond the Games.

For the next two mornings the balloons will project the original score of British musician Dan Jones across the capital. Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "London is waking to one of the most exciting periods in its illustrious history." Andrew Winning/reuters