In Pictures: Wales' heroes return

Around 2,000 people braved an overcast sky to gather at Cardiff Bay to cheer home Wales' Olympic athletes returning from the Beijing Games.

Three generations of one Mountain Ash family, Gillian Holland, 69, Jayne James, 48 and Amey James, 24, said they used to see gold medal cyclist Nicole Cooke training near them every New Year.

Ten-year-old Meredydd Edwards Davies from Pontypridd said after seeing Wales' success in the Olympics he wants to take up competitive cycling "because it's fun".

The Team GB members arrived in an open top bus to a cheering crowd after a short tour around Cardiff Bay.

The athletes lined up to have a group photograph take with, from the left, gold medal winners Nicole Cooke, Geraint Thomas and Tom James and silver medalist David Davies.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan said the athletes had "performed miracles" in Beijing and had provided a "fantastic fortnight" for the people of Wales by embodying the Olympic spirit.

Nicole Cooke drew the loudest cheer for starting Team GB's "gold rush" in Beijing. She said: "It's a dream come true, for me."