It has only been 17 days since the curtain came down on the London Olympics and Britain's biggest haul of gold medals since the 1908 games.

Tonight, the country is getting ready to do it all over again as the opening ceremony of the Paralympics, also held in the UK capital, marks the start of another onslaught by Team GB – which includes 27 Scots athletes – on the medals table.

And two Scots will be centre stage as they carry the Paralympic Torch in the final stages of its journey towards the stadium tonight.

Former Paralympian Caroline Baird, from Carnoustie, Angus, and disability sports worker Katherine Forrester, from Howgate, Midlothian, will carry the torch through the London borough of Newham.

The women are part of a team of torchbearers who will take the flame into the Community Live Site at Stratford Park, where thousands will be watching the opening ceremony on big screens.

They will be accompanied by samba music, dancers and flame jugglers in a tribute to 2016 Games host Brazil.

Both women were awarded the honour through a Sainsbury's nomination campaign.

Mrs Forrester, 32, was nominated for her work as chairwoman of Disability Snowsport Scotland (DSS), where she organises community ski groups in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Mrs Baird, 38, is a former Paralympian who has won four gold medals and now works with people with learning difficulties.

Mrs Forrester, who has worked with DSS for almost 10 years and is a fully qualified adaptive ski instructor, said she is excited to be taking part in the final leg of the relay.

She said: "I'm carrying the torch at 9.50pm and I think it's the last leg of the torch relay so it's all very exciting.

"My husband and my mum and dad are here, and I know everyone back home, at the ski club, are really excited for me and are hoping to catch a glimpse of me on the TV."

Mrs Forrester, who grew up in Doune, added: "I'm just really interested to see how it all comes together.

"We were at the flame festival in Edinburgh on Sunday and that made it all seem real, knowing that I will be holding a wee bit of it."

Mrs Baird, who grew up in Fife, won four gold medals and a silver medal across three consecutive Paralympic Games in 1992, 1996 and 2000.

The runner, who suffers from cerebral palsy, broke Paralympic and world records and was awarded an MBE for her achievements in 2001.

Hopes are high of more success for Team GB, and it would be some achievement if the Paralympians can surpass Britain's 29 gold, 17 silver and 19 bronze medals that helped the nation to third, behind the US and China, earlier this month.

But they firmly believe they can provide more golden memories like Edinburgh-born Sir Chris Hoy's sixth gold medal win at the velodrome and rowing golds by fellow Scots Heather Stanning and Katherine Grainger.

Homegrown talent to watch over the next 11 days of the event, which is being televised live on Channel 4, include 22-year-old Libby Clegg, from Newcastleton in the Borders, in the T12 100m and 200m sprints and cyclist Aileen McGlynn, 39, from Glasgow, in the B pursuit and time trial races.

Other hopefuls include swimmer Jim Anderson, 49, from Broxburn, West Lothian, in the S2 100m freestyle, 50m freestyle and backstroke and cyclist Neil Fachie, 28, from Aberdeen, in the Tandem 1km time trial and sprint.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced they will be attending several events, including the opening ceremony and goalball and track cycling tomorrow.

The Duchess will also be watching tomorrow's swimming, before returning to the Olympic Park for athletics on Sunday.