GOLD medal-winning hero Ben Hunt-Davis returned home to Warminster this week after being crowned Olympic champion in Sydney three weeks ago.

Mr Hunt-Davis, 28, who returned to the family home on Tuesday with parents Miles and Gaye, admitted he was still up in the clouds after dramatically clinching first place and Olympic glory in the Blue Ribbon rowing eights final.

Mr Hunt-Davis, who is due to marry his girlfriend of three years Isabella Parish in Italy later this month, said he was overjoyed at the victory.

He said: "It's everything I have been working for, for so long. It is a dream come true, absolutely amazing. It still hasn't sunk in yet.

"I haven't really been able to describe the emotion yet.

"Steve Redgrave says that you are world champion for a year and Olympic champion for life. I will always be an Olympic winner.

"The gold medal has been in my pocket for the last few weeks, I am not sure where to put it yet."

Great Britain finished first in five minutes 33.08 seconds, ahead of the much-fancied Australians and the world champions America.

Mr Hunt-Davis was joined in Sydney by his parents and fiancee, who watched him cross the finish line victorious.

He recalled the moment he phoned his brother Justin and sister-in-law Rebecca, of Great Cheverell, just minutes after embarking on a lap of honour with his team mates.

He said: "I met up with Rebecca's sister and phoned Justin. They were in floods of tears and to try and get anything out of them was very difficult."

Mr Hunt-Davis attended New Close Primary School in Warminster before moving on to Edgegrove Preparatory School in St Albans and then Shiplake, on the banks of the River Thames, where his rowing dreams began.

His close relationship with brother Justin, 30, helped spur him on to glory, and Mr Hunt-Davis recalled his childhood days in Warminster.

He said: "We used to go cycling all over the place, going to Salisbury to the cinema and all around the surrounding villages."

"I have been in London training for the last few years but I always consider Warminster my home."

However, Mr Hunt-Davis now intends to retire from the sport on a high.

"I am going to stop rowing and try to find a job. I have achieved my dream and there are other things that I would like to do now."