Delighted of Tonbridge welcome Kelly home

The Olympic champion Kelly Holmes was greeted by cheering crowds as she paraded through her home town on an open-top bus yesterday. The 800m and 1500m gold medallist brought the centre of Tonbridge in Kent to a standstill as about 40,000 well-wishers lined the streets, waving Union flags.

The Olympic champion Kelly Holmes was greeted by cheering crowds as she paraded through her home town on an open-top bus yesterday. The 800m and 1500m gold medallist brought the centre of Tonbridge in Kent to a standstill as about 40,000 well-wishers lined the streets, waving Union flags.

After handing Holmes, 34, a certificate to honour her achievement, the deputy mayor, Derek Still, said: "You are a legend in our lifetimes."

An emotional Holmes said: "It hasn't been an easy ride and the whole team did fantastically, not just the people who got medals. I will never ever forget this as long as I live."

About 2,000 supporters made to the grounds of Tonbridge Castle to see Holmes, who grew up in the village of Hildenborough, honoured for her double victory. She is the first British athlete to win both middle-distance running events since Albert Hill at the Antwerp Olympics in 1920.