Glasses were raised in honour of the county's Olympic and Paralympic stars at a special reception in Oxford last night (December 20).

About 60 people gathered at County Hall for the event, organised to celebrate the athletes' achievements in Athens this summer.

Olympic rowing champion Matthew Pinsent received the warmest welcome.

The four-time gold medallist delighted the crowd, despite arriving 50 minutes late after getting stuck in traffic.

He said: "I feel very privileged to be here. It's wonderful for Oxfordshire's sporting community to gain recognition."

Henley-based Mr Pinsent said he felt particularly grateful for the support he had received after announcing he would not be trying to match fellow Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave's record-breaking total of five gold medals, following his success in Greece.

Fellow Olympic rowers Helen Casey, Peter Gardner and Rebecca Romero were also in attendance, as well as Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to run a sub four-minute mile, at Oxford's Iffley Road running track 50 years ago.

Paralympians Kathy Smith and Danielle Watts were both overwhelmed by the reception they received.

Swimmer Miss Watts, 24, who has cerebral palsy, won a silver medal in the 100m backstroke, and two bronze for the 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle.

She started swimming at a young age to gain exercise and relax her body, but began to take it more seriously at the age of 17 while at Lord Mayor Treloar School, in Hampshire.

Miss Watts, from Wheatley, who trains three times a week at Temple Cowley Pools, in Oxford, said: "Two years later, I was picked for the international team. I couldn't believe it when they walked into the classroom and told me.

"I didn't think I was that good, but then I managed to get this far. The competition was tough, so I was pleased to get what I did. The response I've had since has been amazing."

Archer Ms Smith, 56, of Southmoor, won her first gold medal in Athens.

The secretary, who has a hip deformity, said she never expected to go so far. She won two silver medals at Sydney in 2000 and, along with Miss Watts, is hoping to qualify for the 2006 Beijing Paralympics.

Ms Smith, who took up archery in 1986 and joined the international team in 1990, said: "It's lovely to be recognised in this way. Archery is a sport that anyone, of any age, can get involved in. If this helps to show people, especially youngsters, what's possible, that would be wonderful."

The reception was hosted by Anne Kelaart, the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire County Council's chairman Shereen Karmali, and the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Bryan Keen.

Mr Keen said: "It's a great privilege to be here and to pay honour to Oxfordshire's great sporting stars. I hope there will be more in the future."