Paralympic stars return to Britain

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The 206-strong squad were met at Heathrow Airport with handshakes and congratulations from Prime Minister Gordon Brown while former Beatle and ParalympicsGB supporter Sir Paul McCartney was also bursting with praise.

They flew back with an impressive haul of medals including 42 gold, 29 silver and 31 bronze medals, putting them second only to hosts China in the medal table. Their performances bettered Britain's 2004 total of 94 medals, including 35 gold.

London 2012 Olympic organising chairman Lord Coe, who flew back with the team, said they had produced some "outstanding" performances.

He said: "The evident quality of their work is clear and it is a combination of support from the governing bodies, world class coaching and incredibly ambitious competitors."

He said that London 2012 now has a "huge responsibility" to deliver a special Olympic and Paralympic Games in four years.

Earlier Sir Paul said: "Well done guys you did us all proud.

"I'm very excited about our athletes' performances in the Beijing Paralympics and seeing as we have just launched an appeal I look forward to the London Olympics with even more excitement."

Sir Paul is part of a high profile advertising campaign, launched in the summer, aimed at raising £2million to help support the Beijing-bound Paralympians and also to boost the future of sport for the disabled.

The squad arrived home in a gold-tipped plane, similar to the one that brought Britain's successful Olympic team back.