Welcome home! Max Whitlock first off plane from Rio as region's Olympians return to heroes' welcome

Video report by ITV News Anglia's Emily Knight

Olympians from the region have arrived back from Rio to a heroes' welcome following Team GB's best Olympics in more than a century.

Hertfordshire gymnast Max Whitlock was the first to emerge from the golden-nosed plane, with his two golds and bronze medals on display.

The double Olympic champion kept other Olympians entertained during their flight home, showing off some of his winning moves.

The Team GB women's hockey team, including Cambridgeshire's Hannah Macleod were all smiles as they posed for pictures outside the Boeing 747.

They secured a first ever Olympic gold medal by beating the Netherlands in Rio.

Peterborough's Louis Smith was also among the Olympians to arrive back at Heathrow this morning.

The gymnast was pipped to the post by team-mate Max Whitlock on the pommel, and had to settle with a silver medal, the same result as London 2012.

Other heroes of Rio, including cycling golden couple Jason Kenny and Hertfordshire's Laura Trott, had already arrived back in the UK before the official Team GB flight.

Trott made history by becoming the first British woman to win four gold medals at the Olympics.

Britain is the first country to improve on a home medal tally at the following Games, collecting 67 in total to beat the 65 from London 2012.

Britain's Olympians can look forward to victory parades and royal honours as reward for their success.