THE south coast's Olympic stars were finally treated to an open-top bus ride in central London - almost two months after the tournament finished in Athens.

Lymington's Ben Ainslie and Cowes star Shirley Robertson both showed off their gold medals - won in the Finn and Yngling classes respectively - to thousands of people in the capital.

Southampton diver Peter Waterfield and his fellow silver medalists, Lymington's sailing pair Nick Rogers and Open 60 colleague Joe Glanfield, were also present

Yesterday's event was not only a celebration of the present, but also a flag-waving exercise in drumming up support for London's 2012 Olympic bid.

Waterfield refused to rule out competing in eight years time, when he will be 30, but said the thought of the greatest sporting bonanza in the world coming to England excites him.

"If this (support) is what exists here in London, just imagine how much support there is across the rest of the country," said the Millbrook-based diver.

"It would be great if we do get to host the games to have such a big event on our doorstep.

"Not only would it benefit sport in this country but hopefully encourage more kids to get into sport."

Picture shows (back from left) Ben Ainslie, Simon Hiscocks, Joe Glanfield, Nick Rogers and Nick Dempsey and (front from left) Sarah Ayton, Shirley Robertson and Sarah Webb at the Parade of the Heroes photo-call at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in London.