Yorkshire welcomes home Rio 2016 heroes

The samba spirit of Rio 2016 came to Leeds today - as thousands lined the streets to welcome home Yorkshire's Olympians and Paralympians .

Athletes were greeted by "absolutely epic" crowds as they were cheered round the streets of Leeds on a fleet of open-top buses.

It needed six buses to transport the Yorkshire-based athletes around the city centre, with those aboard including the triathlon gold medallist brothers Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, two-sport paralympic double gold medallist Kadeena Cox and diving champion Jack Laugher.

Gold medal-winning rower Andy Triggs Hodge waved to the thousands who lined the route around the city centre and said:

Bronze medallist gymnast Nile Wilson kicked off the festivities with a demonstration of his skills on the front of double-decker number five.

All the athletes said they were amazed by the turn-out.

The diver, who won gold in Rio in the 3m springboard synchro with Chris Mears, explained how he shut off all social media while he was competing and was astonished when he realised the reaction when he got back home.