Olympic hero Chris Mears arrives back in Burghfield

Jubilant community welcomes gold medalist home

OLYMPIC gold medalist Chris Mears received a hero's welcome when he returned home to Burghfield Common yesterday.

Mears and his diving partner Jack Laugher made history by becoming the first British divers to win an Olympic gold medal.

Former Willink School pupil Mears signed autographs and posed for photos with fans.

Burghfield residents have quite literally painted the village gold to mark Mears' homecoming from Rio.

They have created a giant gold medal made from cardboard which people have been writing congratulatory messages on and this was presented to Mears as a gift yesterday.

Mears also admired and posed for pictures with the replica ‘gold post box’ outside the post office on Recreation Road.