The classic British film Chariots of Fire is being re-released to celebrate the Olympics.

The Oscar winnning 1981 film premiered on Tuesday in London, and actor Ben Cross, who played the lead role of Harold Abrahams, said he was delighted it would now be seen by a new generation of movie-goers.

He said: "It comes as a tremendous shock, a very pleasant shock but it's extraordinary after 30 years that a film that had its premiere 30 years ago can apparently generate such excitement, it's wonderful."

Co-star Nigel Havers explained: "It's a film that doesn't date because it was already dated when we made it. It's about people who had a spirit and a heart and they overcame things so that's a wonderful lesson for us all. Also it was well written, things that are well written and well directed and well produced, they kind of do alright."

The film, which was inspired by the Scottish athlete Eric Liddell, won four academy awards when it was first released in 1981.

Its opening scene of runners on a beach in St Andrews and the extremely well-known Academy Award-winning theme music by Vangelis have become synonymous with the Olympics.

The remastered film is released in the UK on July 13.