Crossrail has announced the deployment of its eighth tunnel boring machine in east London.

Named Ellie, the 1,000 tonne contraption was the last to be inaugurated as it began its 2.7km journey to Stepney Green. Once there, it will break into one of Europe's largest mine caverns later in the year.

Measuring, 150m long and 7.1m in diameter, Ellie will help create part of the rail project's north-east spur from Whitechapel to Shenfield, Essex. Meanwhile its sister machine, named Jessica, will be deployed to Limmo Peninsula to begin Crossrail's final tunnel drive towards Victoria Dock Portal.

Chief executive Andrew Wolstenholme commented: "It is fitting that our latest tunnelling milestone is taking place only a short distance from the scene of some of Britain's greatest sporting triumphs."

This is because the machines were named after two of the stars of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, Ellie Simmonds and Jessica Ennis-Hill. Both names were chosen by pupils of Marion Richardson school in Stepney.