Scientists 'very relieved' after flawless test of Hadron particle collider

Researchers in Geneva began sending test protons into the Large Hadron Collider at 8.30am, expecting it to take several hours before the system was fully up and running. However, just an hour later there were jubilant scenes as the £5billion project sprang to life.

Researchers successfully sent a stream of protons around the full circle of the LHC's 27km-long tunnel for the first time, passing through all the sensors.

Eventually they hope to send a second particle beam in the opposite direction at close to the speed of light, causing a collision that will recreate the conditions just after the Big Bang.

"That's beautiful!" exclaimed Lyn Evans, the Welshman who is the director of the Cern project in Geneva. He was quick to thank the 15,000 scientists who have contributed. "Thank you, thank you everyone," he said as a tiny white dot appeared on a monitor, signifying the Atlas sensor, the final in the circle, had spotted a particle. "There it is, we had a very good start-up."

In London, scientists involved in the project gathered in Westminster Central Hall to watch a live feed from Cern's control room. The room erupted in cheers as news of the success was announced. "It has all worked flawlessly, and far faster than we had dreamed of," said Professor Jonathan Butterworth of UCL, the London researcher in charge of the Atlas sensor, the LHC's biggest experiment. "We're all very relieved, and now we can't wait to get started on the science. This is really just the beginning for us all, and I can't wait to start looking at the data we are getting."

Researchers were spending the rest of the day firing a beam around the ring in the opposite direction. In about four weeks, they will conduct the first collision, before gradually increasing the speed of the beams in the LHC. It is expected to be working at full speed by Christmas.

The LHC caused controversy after critics claimed it would cause a black hole to form, effectively ending the world. They feared it could have led to an explosion so massive it could instantly destroy the Earth, with all the remaining material sucked into an infinitesimally small space.

Professor Jordan Nash, an Imperial College scientist involved in the project, said it was near to impossible to imagine a black hole being created. Even if it did, it would be a minuscule version of the cosmic phenomena which occur when giant stars collapse in on themselves. Also, if tiny black holes could be created, they would evaporate in a flash of gamma radiation, instead of sucking in mass.

"If we were to create a black hole, which we are certain will not happen, it would be a very tiny one, smaller than a cell in your body," he said.

"Overall we are ecstatic by the progress. Everything worked exactly as we hoped. I can't wait to get over there and start the real work now."

Bookmaker William Hill took £119 from people betting the world would end. "Some may say it is a bet we can never lose, for the obvious reason that we won't be here to pay out should it happen," said spokesman Graham Sharpe.