WATCH: Thousands line streets of Stone for Olympic hero Joe Clarke's victory parade

Thousands of people turned out to see the 23-year-old parade through Stone High Street into Westbridge Park yesterday.

Clarke, who is a member of Stafford and Stone Canoe Club, won the kayak K1 gold as Great Britain claimed six medals on day five of the Olympics.

Crowds of more than 3,000 people saw him travel through the town alongside a brass band and cadets, before he was picked up in his kayak by his club colleagues and carried through the gates of the park.

Stone Town Council spent £7,000 on the celebrations, which saw more than 3,000 Union Flags handed out. The bells of St Michael's Church also rang out in his honour.

While being lifted up in his kayak, Joe said: "I never expected this amount of people to come out here and get a reception like I did. It's been out of this world. I love Stone and I love my home town."

Joe took time out during the day to sign autographs on postcards, with a design of himself on them made by artist Emma Joustra, who lives locally.

In his honour, the gates of Westbridge Park were painted gold after Stafford and Stone Canoe Club previously did the same to the club's postbox.

Joe added: "As soon as I crossed the finish line I was thinking about Tokyo. I thought I needed to do it again because it was the most amazing experience of my life.

"I want to get canoe slaloming and Stone on the map and get people to know my town. Stafford and Stone Canoe Club is a fantastic canoe club and without them I wouldn't be standing here today."

Express & Star reporter Tom Oakley was among the crowds.