Two of the county's Olympic medallists spoke of their pride at being hailed for their sporting success by thousands of supporters in London.

Windsurfer Bryony Shaw, who honed her skills on Farmoor Reservoir, and Wheatley rower Frances Houghton were among 500 British Olympic and Paralympic athletes who paraded through the capital before meeting the Queen today.

Former Cheney School pupil Miss Shaw, 25, scooped Britain's first ever medal in the sport with bronze.

Speaking after the parade, before going to Buckingham Palace, she said: "It was amazing to see people leaning out of their office windows and to see all the support. It was a wonderful experience.

"It was really inspiring to see the support from the people of London and from all over the country — people had travelled from all over Britain to be there to show their appreciation to the 2008 Olympians.

"London 2012 should be awesome and I am really looking forward to taking part."

A former Dragon School pupil, Miss Houghton won silver in the quad sculls. She spoke as she rode towards Trafalgar Square.

She said: "This is unbelievable. I am so moved. I can't believe how many people are out here cheering and how excited everyone is.

"It is also so nice to catch up with my team mates after so long since Beijing."

Watching from the crowd, Miss Shaw's mother, Hazel, said: "It was awesome, really fantastic. The people were so happy and so supportive. As each set of Olympians came out a huge cheer went up from the crowd.

"Each athlete's contribution was cheered and clapped. It was a fantastic feeling. Bryony was on a bus with some of the gymnasts who were doing back flips, front flips and cartwheels while she was taking photographs."

She added: "When Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, came down the steps to make his speech, she jumped up and shook his hand and managed to get her photo taken with him after he had spoken.

"She also managed to speak to Seb Coe who offered her tickets to any Chelsea matches, so she got herself really well known by the powers that be."

Mrs Shaw, who relocated her family to Weymouth to help with Bryony's career, said her daughter was "looking forward immensely" to meeting the Queen.

Other Olympic winners from the county included Mara Yamauchi, 35, who came sixth in the marathon, Oxford-born Daisy Dick, part of the equestrian team, Oxford University rowers Pete Reed and Andy Trigg, who won gold in the men's coxless fours, and Debbie Flood from Henley.