DOUBLE Olympic gold medal winner Kelly Holmes is to be invited to receive the first Kent Invicta Award.

The new "honours" scheme is being set up by the county council to pay tribute to Kent's outstanding achievers.

It follows talks between KCC leader Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart and the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Allan Willett.

Last week, after Kelly won the 800 metres race, the Kent Messenger urged that such a county-wide award should be established to recognise such excellence.

Since then the 34-year-old athlete has gone on to achieve an historic Olympic double for Britain by winning the 1500 metre race.

An estimated 40,000 people lined the streets on Wednesday to cheer Kelly in an open-top bus parade from her home in Hildenborough to Tonbridge town centre.

The athlete said she was overwhelmed by the reception, telling the crowds: "I will never ever forget this as long as I live."

If she agrees, her Invicta award is expected to be presented at a special ceremony attended by many of the county's young sports enthusiasts from colleges and schools.

KCC's cabinet members backed the scheme in principle on Tuesday. More details will be worked out by Sir Sandy and Mr Willett when the Lord Lieutenant returns from holiday.

Sir Sandy said this week: "Kelly's double gold is the most amazing achievement and we are full of admiration at the years of dedication, determination and courage which brought her this extraordinary success.

"We feel very proud of her."

He said that Kelly had for a number of years helped Kent's Sports Development Unit with the promotion of sport in the county.

"In every sense of the word she has served the county through outstanding achievement," he added.

Invicta, the Kent motto, means unconquered or untamed.

"It refers to our independent spirit and our refusal to be beaten - just the kind of spirit shown by Kelly," added Sir Sandy.

"If you win a gold medal you are certainly unconquered."