Olympic rowing champion Matthew Pinsent will head a host of sporting stars at a special reception to celebrate sport in Oxfordshire.

The four-times gold medallist will be joined at County Hall on Monday by fellow Olympic rowers Helen Casey, Peter Gardner and Rebecca Romero and Paralympians Kathy Smith and Danielle Watts.

They will be greeted by about 100 representatives of different sports from across the county for the Champagne reception.

Rebecca Romero, who trains at the Leander Club in Henley, won a silver medal at Athens in the women's quadruple skulls but Wallingford Rowing Club's Helen Casey missed out on honours in the women's lightweight double skulls.

Pete Gardner, who competed in the men's quadruple skulls, also trains in Henley. He missed out on a medal after his team failed to get through the semi-finals.

Archer Kathy Smith, from Southmoor, near Abingdon, who has a hip deformity, was part of the team which won gold at the Athens Paralympics, while swimmer Danielle Watts, 24, from Wheatley, who has cerebral palsy, won two bronze medals and a silver.

The event is being hosted by Anne Kelaart, the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, Shereen Karmali, chairman of Oxfordshire County Council, and the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Bryan Keen.

Mrs Kelaart said: "Many people were thrilled by the Olympics this year and we thought it would be fitting to congratulate our Olympians.

"Many representatives from sports across the county will be attending.

"Sport is one of Oxfordshire's many glories and the reception will give people from different sports a chance to talk to each other."

Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to run a sub-four-minute mile, at Iffley Road running track 50 years ago, is also expected to attend.

Mrs Kelaart said her interest in the Olympics was heightened by her brother Andrew Hedges's inclusion in the British bobsleigh team in the 1964 winter event in Italy.

"He carried the Union Jack at the opening ceremony and two of the team went on to win gold medals," Mrs Kelaart added.

"Ever since then I have always loved the Olympics.

"Matthew Pinsent has been a real hero this year and we hope he will say a few words."

Following his victory in Athens, Henley-based Mr Pinsent decided he was not going to try to match fellow Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave's record-breaking total of five gold medals.

Earlier this month, at the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year Awards, Great Britain's coxless four won the Team of the Year award for their rowing success in Athens.

Mr Pinsent, James Cracknell, Ed Coode and Steve Williams edged out Canada in a dramatic final race.