THE BBC claimed viewing figures for its small hours Olympics coverage have increased sharply in the second week of the games.

More than 5.6 million viewers saw Jonathan Edwards competing in the heats of the triple jump at 1.0 a.m. on Sunday, while nearly four million were tuned in at 2.0 a.m. to witness Linford Christie's disqualification in the 100 metres. The figures gave BBC 1 a 75 per cent share of the late night audience.

It followed disappointing figures for the opening ceremony, watched by just over 1 million, and accusations that the BBC had made an error in opting for 350 hours of round the clock coverage.

The Essential Olympics on Saturday, the main evening programme which featured a round up of news on the Centennial Park bombing and Britain's Redgrave/Pinsent rowing gold, peaked at 10.7 million, almost 2 million more than watched the National Lottery Live.