Stars shine brightly at Sandwell Commonwealth Games celebrations

They shone on the sporting stage at this year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

And today four athletes who competed in the Games from Sandwell were given a hero's welcome on home turf in front of hundreds of people at a special event held for them in Oldbury.

Scores of families descended on the town - renamed Goldbury for the day - to catch a glimpse of the talented athletes.

Jodie puts two youngsters through their paces.

Triathlete Jodie Stimpson, who bagged two gold medals at the Games in Glasgow, took centre stage along with guide runner Mikail Huggins, wrestler Chinu and weightlifter Jaswant Shergill.

And all four said they were overwhelmed by the number of people who had turned out to salute them on Saturday.

Oldbury-born Jodie said: "It's been breathtaking. I didn't expect that amount of people to come out and see us.

"It meant such a lot and I was very humbled by it. It seems the whole of Sandwell has backed us.

"I hope all of us who took part in the Commonwealth Games have gone on to inspire a new generation of athletes and that there will be lots of young Sandwell stars among them."

A civic ceremony for Commonwealth games gold medal winner Jodie Stimpson and other medal winners from Sandwell. Medal winners Mikail Huggins, Jodie Stimpson, Jaswant Shergill and Chinu.

Jodie, who is 25-years-old and a former Oldbury Swimming and Triathlon Club (STC) member, won gold medals in the solo and mixed triathlon this summer.

She added that it had been nice spending time with family over the past fortnight but said her focus was back on training with her next race, the Challenge Bahrain, in December.

Gold medal winner Jodie Stimpson poses with two local officers.

Sandwell's mayor Councillor Derek Rowley hosted a civic reception honouring the borough's sports heroes. And they all stepped out onto the balcony of the council house to be greeted with cheers from the crowd below.

Councillor Rowely said: "What a wonderful bunch of people they are."

And council leader Darren Cooper added: "It was honour to celebrate our athletes' success and turn Oldbury into Goldbury for the day.

Budding runners take a shot at the running track.

"It goes to show how hard work and dedication can pay off and I wish all four athletes continued success."

As part of the celebrations, a bus stop was sprayed gold, road signs renamed Goldbury and the town centre was transformed into a mini sports arena for youngsters.

Oldbury's Jaswant added: "The people who came to see us were incredible. It was a wonderful feeling coming out onto the balcony and seeing all their faces down below."