Britain’s successful Olympic athletes brought central London to a halt this afternoon as they made their way along the Olympic Parade route.

The sports men and women made their way from Mansion House to Trafalgar Square in their victory buses, led by the Grenadier Royal Guards band.

Crowds of supporters managed to find their way to Trafalgar Square for the victory parade, despite the disruption to traffic through the capital.

Sports fans gathered outside the Tate and a sea of waving blue hands greeted the athletes as the buses passed the famous fountains under Nelson’s Column.

Among the athletes lapping up the praise were 13-year-old Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds and double gold medallist Rebecca Adlington.

Speaking to the Press Association, triple Olympic gold medallist Chris Hoy described it as “a great way” to celebrate their success.

He said: “It is the day that the athletes have been waiting for. It is going to be massive and it is a chance for us to say thank you to the public.”