Olympic gold medallist Steven Burke’s triumphant homecoming to Colne: photo special

And Steven was given a great welcome. He sat on an open-topped car and rode up through town from the railway station at the bottom of Albert Road, followed by lots of Pendle cyclists and escorted by the police. He waved at all the people who were clapping and cheering him.

He was then given congratulations by the Mayor and Mayoress of Pendle, Coun. Asjad Mahmood and his wife Mrs Samina Khan, and was interviewed by Pendle Council regeneration chief Mr Brian Cookson, who is also national president of British Cycling.

Loads of umbrellas were in operation because of the dreadful weather but it didn’t stop lots of people welcoming Steven home after his success at the London 2012 Olympics, where he and his fellow Men’s team Pursuit colleagues not only won the golf medal but broke the world record.