EAR-SPLITTING whistles and car horns filled the air as the celebrations reached fever pitch yestyerday afternoon for Olympic golden girl Kelly Holmes.

Tonbridge High Street was painted red, white and blue by an estimated 30,000 people who had come together to celebrate the double gold medal success of the Hildenborough athlete.

And as her open-top bus crawled into sight a deafening roar went up as the huge crowd hoisted their Union Flags in the air and saluted their hero.

Kelly - sporting her trademark braids - stood at the front of the bus holding aloft her two medals and swaying a flag to even louder cheers.

The 34-year-old became the new queen of British athletics during the Olympics in Athens where she collected gold medals in both the 800m and 1500m, recording personal best times in both finals.

The procession had started at about 3pm from near Kelly’s Hildenborough home and ended at Tonbridge Castle where a further 2,000 supporters were waiting to greet her for a civic reception.

It is estimated that about 40,000 people attended the parade.

Kelly said: "I always had this burning desire to be Olympic champion. For all the low points, I kept on fighting and this has made up for everything that has happened to me. I'm so very overwhelemed with the reception. I will never forget this as long as I live.”

David Hughes, from the borough council, spoke to KM-fm about yesterday's arrangements...

AN EIGHT-PAGE SOUVENIR PULL-OUT SUPPLEMENT SPOTLIGHTING KELLY'S HOMECOMING WILL APPEAR IN THIS FRIDAY'S KENT MESSENGER