Two Russians and an American have blasted off in a Soyuz rocket bound for the International Space Station.

Michael Hopkins, Oleg Kotov and Sergei Ryazansky took off from the Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan on Wednesday.

They will join European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, who has spoken to the BBC about a dramatic leak in his helmet during a spacewalk in July.

During their five-month stay, Kotov and Ryazanskiy will take an unlighted Olympic torch on a space walk to promote Russia's 2014 Olympic Games.