Manchester to toast Olympic Heros

MANCHESTER is preparing to give its Olympic champions a fitting welcome home to celebrate their record-breaking success.

The city will hold a giant party in front of the town hall in Albert Square on Tuesday 7th October from 5.30 to 7.30 (FREE) with appearances by Beijing stars like Salford's triple gold medal-winning cyclist Chris Hoy.

Other athletes taking part will including gold medal-winning husband-and-wife team Barney and Sarah Storey, who cycled their way to success at the Paralympics, silver medal-winning swimmer Kerrie Anne Payne, gymnast Beth Tweddle and bronze medallist Sarah Stevenson, who was the first to win an Olympic medal in Taekwondo for Britain.

The party - for which the M.E.N. is the official media partner - begins at 5.30pm and will also include music and entertainment, including a performance by Manchester opera singer Jon Cristos.

Coun Mike Amesbury is encouraging people to turn out to mark the performance of Manchester's local athletes in Beijing. He said: "Let's stand up and cheer these great ambassadors of this great city, and show them that our pride in them and their achievements has only just begun."