Gold medallist Joe Clarke to be welcomed home with victory parade

Joe Clarke Credit: Martin Rickett / PA Images

Staffordshire's canoe slalom gold medallist Joe Clarke is to be welcomed home with a victory parade.

The 23-year-old won Britain's first Olympic medal in the men's K1 since Campbell Walsh at Athens 2004.

Friends at the Stafford and Stone Canoe Club will be hoisting him aloft in his kayak along the route in his home town when he returns from Rio.

The council is also organising a civic reception for the town's hero before the parade.

Joe Clarke competing in the Kayak (K1) Men's final. Credit: Martin Rickett / PA Images

Members had also decided to spray-paint a letter box which is nailed tothe side of the clubhouse building, in gold after Clarke's historic win.

After the Royal Mail announced it would not be painting post boxes as it did for London 2012 medal winners.