Six million watch Peacock win gold

A record audience of more than six million tuned in to watch Jonnie Peacock's lightning 100m gold - the biggest of the Paralympics so far.

The nation has continued to take the Games to its heart, as athletes perform in sell-out crowds and millions watch at home.

"Thriller Thursday" was capped in stunning fashion in the Olympic Stadium on Thursday night as David Weir, Hurricane Hannah Cockroft and Peacock all won gold.

Ratings for the coverage show the 100m showdown - which also featured Oscar Pistorius - pulled in a huge 6.3 million viewers. Including the Paralympic Extra live streams, the peak was 6.7 million.

The figure smashed the previous highest for a live event, which was 4.4million for Sunday's 200m race in which Pistorius lost to Brazilian Alan Oliveira.

David "The Weirwolf" Weir drew 5.5 million for his stunning 800m victory and 4.1 million watched Halifax flier Cockroft storm to 200m gold. The combined audience made the broadcaster the most watched television channel in the UK.

Viewing figures have been steadily growing for the Paralympics, which started with 11.4 million people watching the opening ceremony last Wednesday night.

An audience of 2.9 million watched swimmer Ellie Simmonds take gold in Saturday's S6 400m freestyle event.

The popularity of the Paralympics led Channel 4 to alter its schedules early in the Games, with all non-related content being taken off the air.

Channel 4's chief creative officer Jay Hunt said: "The coverage of the Paralympics has completely captured the public's imagination."