SOUTHAMPTON diving sensation Pete Waterfield is to be welcomed home to the city with an open-top bus parade and civic reception.

Plans are already in place to mark the achievement of the 23-year-old, who claimed a silver medal at the Athens Olympics in the synchronised ten-metre diving event with Leon Taylor.

Pete, pictured above left with Leon, who is still to compete in the solo ten-metre competition on Friday, will have a mayoral reception in his honour at Southampton Civic Offices on August 31, at 12.30pm.

It will be followed by an open-top bus ride to The Quays swimming and diving complex where a party will be held for Pete and his coach Lindsey Fraser, their families and Southampton Diving Academy members and coaches.

People will have a chance to speak to Pete of Windermere Avenue, Millbrook and see his prized Olympic medal before the bus sets off from the civic offices.

David Langridge of Southampton City Council's leisure department said: "We are in the early stages of arranging the welcome home party.

"We are going to try and involve everyone who has been involved in promoting diving in Southampton and senior people from the council."

Anne Clewlow, Southampton Diving Academy spokeswoman, said: "We want to mark Pete's achievement because it justifies what the city has done for diving.

"When the council decided to create a centre of excellence in diving they were really stepping into the unknown.

"But they had the vision and this is what has come out of it - an Olympic medal."