Olympics minister Tessa Jowell today vowed she would not be "intimidated" if the Olympic torch relay, which visits London this weekend, is marred by demonstrations.

Ms Jowell dismissed suggestions that the extravaganza should be scaled down for the London Games, even if it continues to be overshadowed by protests as the flame makes its four-month journey to China.

"I absolutely do not think that [it should be scaled down]" she told the Standard. "The torch relay is a celebration of the nature of the Olympics and a celebration of the host city's responsibility to deliver the Olympic ideals."

Ms Jowell backed Mayor Ken Livingstone and his mayoral rival Boris Johnson in defending the right of pro-Tibet activists to stage demonstrations on Sunday, so long as they were peaceful.

She said: "Peaceful and lawful protest is part of lawful expression and violent protest is not."

Amid reports that the 31-mile procession through London will be marred by the first serious disruption on the 85,000-mile route, she said: "I sincerely hope there won't be any but the message will be do not spoil the torch relay for hundreds of thousands of Londoners."

Around 2,000 police officers will patrol the route from Wembley to Greenwich via central London.

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