AMONG those waiting to cheer Kelly home was Judy Kirby, 65, from Tonbridge. She took up a frontline spot in her deckchair in Tonbridge High Street.

Sporting a boater with a Union flag scarf, she said: "She has not had an easy time. She really had to work hard. She has done really well and deserves a good homecoming."

Her sister Pat Cooper, 69, whose daughter-in-law is related to Kelly Holmes, was also out on parade alongside her.

Annmarie Maile, from Shipbourne Road, Tonbridge, brought her five-year-old son Tony along to see the parade. She said: "It's great that she won two gold medals. It is something to be proud of."

Pauline Green, 60, from Brenchley, was joined by her granddaughter, Samantha, 10, from Paddock Wood.

She said: "We were cheering her on on the TV and we wanted to be here to see her in person. Just imagine if she had not had all those injuries."

For Lilian Brock, Kelly's homecoming parade brought back memories of royal parades when she lived in London.

She was out armed with Union flags for Charles and Diana's wedding, plus trooping of the colour and other royal occasions.

Lilian, who now lives in a retirement home in Benenden, said: "She deserves for everybody to turn out and cheer her on. I couldn't get over to see her in Athens so it's nice to cheer her on here."

Steffan and Jamie Neve were among the crowds of noisy fans armed with horns for the victory parade.

Their mother Tania, from High Broom, said her husband had run with Kelly, and they all hoped to go to the London parade of all the Team GB medallists. She said: "We are proud of her."

These teenagers from Paddock Wood pulled out all the stops in a bid to get on television by wearing togas and crafting laurel leaf head dresses like those presented to medallists in Athens.

Ben Taylor, Sher Jan and Jack Beavington, all 17, said they had been inspired by Kelly's Olympic performance. Ben said: "We are proud to celebrate in Kelly's joy. We love sport and anything that England do, and we like to see when they do well."

Father and son Alan and Dean Turley from Tunbridge Wells arrived two hours before the parade to get a good vantage point. Alan, 45, said: "It was fantastic. We enjoyed it so much on the TV we felt we had to come down here and give our support."

Jed Grayston, 12, travelled over with his family from Crowborough and said Kelly Holmes was a role model.

He said: "Everyone has a dream in life and she has managed to achieve hers. I don't know what it must be like to know you have achieved your dream, and I don't know what she will do now."

Andrew Cockersole, 31, from Maidstone, took the afternoon off work to travel to Tonbridge for the victory parade.

He said: "I wanted to witness the celebration of Britain's finest ever track and field performance at an Olympic Games.

"It seems to have brought out the same level of enthusiasm and patriotism as the rugby World Cup win."

Retired teacher Mary Stinton, her husband Ken and their eight-year-old grandson Edward, from Five Oak Green, arrived three hours early to make sure they got a prime spot in Tonbridge High Street.

Mrs Stinton said: "I wish I'd taught her!"