Victory Parade for Ribble Valley Olympians

Over 10,000 people attended a victory parade in Clitheroe for Olympic medallists Samantha Murray and Jon Schofield.

Modern pentathlete Samantha, who won silver at London 2012, and sprint canoeist Jon, who won bronze alongside his kayaking partner Liam Heath, were guests of honour at a civic reception prior to the parade.

The reception was attended by the mayors of Ribble Valley and Clitheroe, as well as the families and friends of the two Olympians.

Ribble Valley Mayor Ian Sayers presented the triumphant pair with commemorative glass plaques marking their achievements.

A local artist has also been commissioned to produce personalised pieces of artwork that will be presented to the dynamic duo in due course.

Ribble Valley Mayor Ian Sayers said: "Ribble Valley Borough Council is immensely proud to have supported these two fine young athletes over the years and thrilled to have given them the homecoming they so richly deserve.

"To have produced one Olympic medallist would have been an achievement for a small rural borough like Ribble Valley, but two is quite remarkable."

The two Olympians, resplendent in their official Team GB uniforms, travelled a two-mile route in an open-top vehicle, flanked by a guard of honour comprising five official Olympic torchbearers, before attending a small reception hosted by Clitheroe Mayor Allan Knox.