DOUBLE silver medal-winning swimmer Jazz Carlin will receive a hero’s welcome when she returns home to Bradford on Avon after her successes in the Olympic pool in Rio.

The town council has marked her achievements with a celebratory silver banner in Westbury Gardens.

The 25-year-old swimmer, who came second in the 400m and the 800m freestyle, flew back to the UK on Tuesday on British Airway’s specially charted gold-nosed plane.

Mayor Alison Craddock said: “The town is very proud of Jazz and what she has achieved. We are thrilled for her.

“The banner is a great way to say welcome back and we can’t wait to hold a welcome home reception for her.”

Ms Carlin, who missed out on London 2012 due to glandular fever, has continued to be the talk of the town after becoming the first Welsh woman to claim an Olympic swimming medal since 1932.

Ms Carlin, who trains at Bath University, said she was ‘gobsmacked’ by the result and added that none of it would have been possible without the dedication of her parents, Mary and Roger.

“I couldn’t be here where I am today without (my family),” she said.

“All those early mornings driving me to training when I was moody and I didn’t want to go.

“At 5am it is quite hard to be upbeat and happy.

“They have been here from the start, through the good times and the hard times, and it is nice they can finally be here.”

It was hoped that the town council would be able to mark Jazz’s medal success on the letterbox in The Shambles, which was painted gold to mark the achievements of Bradford on Avon kayaker Ed McKeever.

But the Royal Mail scuppered the plans saying the letterboxes were a one-off to celebrate London hosting the games.