Olympic rowing champion Helen Glover urged young people across the county to take up a sport, after she set foot on British soil this week.

Speaking to the Bucks Free Press, the double gold medallist said she returned to her Cookham home to a warm welcome from her neighbours – who spray painted a nearby post box gold in her honour.

Helen moved form Cornwall to the area last year to live with her fiancée - BBC presenter Steve Backshall – and praised her neighbours for making it feel like “home”.

She said: “It is so nice (to be home) we are really lucky our neighbours are wonderful they have decorated the house – they have spray painted the post box gold and put bunting outside it really makes it feel like home.

"It is really different coming back here than the home I grew up in.

“In Cornwall there is a real sense of  home pride. They are really proud because not that many people go to the Olympics but here there are a number of Olympians who know the work it takes - you have places like Marlow Rowing Club which is this amazing facility.

“We live by the river so see the Borlase and Marlow schools coming up the river which is so amazing to see.

“Some may aspire to be Olympians lots are just having fun there is so much opportunity around here I would say to any young person looking to get in to a sport after seeing the Olympics just find a club and sign up.”

Helen brought back gold after winning the women’s coxless pair in Rio together with Heather Stanning.