Welsh Olympic medal winners were given a heroes' homecoming by thousands of fans today.

Well-wishers waved the Red Dragon flag and cheered as the Olympic stars rode in an opentop bus through the streets of Cardiff Bay.

The medallists and the rest of the Wales squad from the record-breaking GB team were given a sing-song welcome at the Welsh Assembly Senedd building.

Welsh choir Only Men Aloud! belted out the Bond theme song Goldfinger as a tribute to the medal winners.

The three gold medallists were welcomed by Assembly First Minister Rhodri Morgan as banners bearing the message "Da iawn" - Welsh for "well done" - draped the Senedd building.

Gold medal-winning cyclist Nicole Cooke, 25, said: "What a welcome home - I've dreamed of this moment."

The women's road race winner was joined by Tom James, 24, one of the rowing coxless fours, with Geraint Thomas, 21, part of the team pursuit cycling team.

Other Welsh members of the squad including 10-kilometre swimming silver medallist David Davies, 23, were applauded by the crowd.

The only medallist missing was silver-winning rower Tom Lucy, 20, who was feeling under the weather after the flight from Beijing.

Thomas said: "Nicole's win inspired all the athletes and gave us the motivation to go for it."

Welsh gold winner of 1964, long jumper Lynn Davies, known as Lynn the Leap, told the crowd: "These young stars are inspiring every young person in Wales."

Mr Morgan said: "They have made us proud - now it is our turn to show our appreciation."

• 

  Lenny Henry: 'Maybe one day we can have a black Doctor Who'

  As he wins the outstanding newcomer prize at the Evening Standard theatre awards for his role as Othello, Lenny Henry has come a long way from black and white minstrels

  ---

• 

  Spread of the Jedhead

  Jedward, voted off the X-Factor this weekend, are the most obvious proponents of the sticky-uppy look - but the style crosses boundaries of age, gender, sexuality and taste, says Nick Curtis

  ---

Sky in plot to hire students on the cheap

Sky News is currently recruiting students as reporters for its coverage of next year's general election. However, the opportunity doesn't quite seem so appealing

All stories