British astronaut's father speaks of pride as rocket is positioned on launchpad

Nigel Peake, father of Tim, admitted to being 'very, very proud and just a little bit overawed' ahead of Tuesday's launch

The father of Tim Peake has spoke of his pride after watching the Russian rocket that will carry his son into space being lifted on to its launchpad. Nigel Peake and his wife, Angela, stood yards from the 162ft Soyuz FG rocket as it was manoeuvred into position for blast-off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

"We're immensely proud," said Peake. "As you can imagine, it's quite surreal to think you're the father of an astronaut, especially a British astronaut. So we're very, very proud, and just a little bit overawed by the whole operation."