THE centre of Tonbridge has never seen anything like it.

Never before had so many people crammed on to the High Street pavements. And not even on Jubilee day would so many Union flags have been flown in joyous celebration.

An estimated 30,000 people took time out from their day-to-day lives to welcome back the golden girl of British athletics, Kelly Holmes, in the town centre which was soaked in suitably golden sunshine.

A further 10,000 are thought to have lined the rest of the route from Kelly's home in the nearby village of Hildenborough.

People could barely move for banners or flags or hear themselves for whistles and hooters.

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

She 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 today. I will never forget this as long as I live.”

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