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No, it's not an alien invasion! Laser show dazzles London as Shard officially opens... but would you pay £25 for a lift ride up to the top?

The Shard is opened with a spectacular light and laser show that lit up the London night sky
Tower is 1016ft high, with 11,000 glass panels covering the area of eight football pitches
There are 44 lifts, including double-decker lifts and 306 flights of stairs
Tickets to go up and see the view from 800ft above London will go on sale at 9am today

By Paul Harris
PUBLISHED: 09:59 GMT, 5 July 2012 | UPDATED: 09:19 GMT, 6 July 2012
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Scroll down to watch the laser show

Landmark: The Shard, Europe's tallest building on London's south bank, opened last night with a spectacular light and laser show

Londoners flocked to rooftops, balconies and public spaces as the tower, which rises to 1,016ft above the city, was lit in blue, green, purple and gold

Shard close-up: A helicopter captures the 95-storey skyscraper up close as it shines blue and green lasers stretch out into central London

Crowds gather on Tower Bridge and take photographs as the sky is lit up by the Shard and its protruding lasers

Crowds gather on Tower Bridge and take photographs as the sky is lit up by the Shard and its green protruding lasers

Lasers shoot from the Shard as it towers above a spectacular panorama of central London, with St Paul's Cathedral on the left, Tower Bridge in the centre, and the south bank of the Thames on the right

Iconic: The building was inaugurated by the prime minister of Qatar, Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al Thani, and the Duke of York

The Shard lights up behind Tower Bridge on the south bank of the River Thames as Europe's tallest tower officially opens

Lasers dart out into the night sky from the 1,016 tall skyscraper, designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano

Laser lights shine from The Shard over Tower Bridge on July 5, 2012 in London, England

A Lord of the Rings fan holds up a placard that reads 'ALL HAIL SAURON', comparing the lit tower to the glowing lair of the fantasy franchise's evil antagonist
Colourful:The night is illuminated as a surface of The Shard turns pink and green lasers bounce off the sky