OLYMPIANS and paralympians from the region will be honoured for their efforts in their respective Rio games in the summer, on Monday.

The Mayor of Sunderland, councillor Alan Emerson, will present specially commissioned medals on behalf of the city to the local sporting champions at a special civic reception.

Invitations have also been sent beyond the city boundaries to other North-East participants in the summer games, with those unable to attend being sent the commemorative medal to their home addresses.

Among those invited are long distance runner Alyson Dixon, yachtsman John Robertson, swimmers Josef Craig and Matt Wylie, boxers Josh Kelly and Pat McCormack plus trampolinist Kat Driscoll.

Coun Emerson said: “Our athletes enjoyed unprecedented success at Rio 2016 and it is only right we recognise their massive contribution to local, national and international sport.

“They all represented our city, our region and our country with such distinction, and this is our way of thanking them and commemorating their achievements.”

The ceremony is in the Mayor’s Parlour at the civic centre, in Burdon Road, Sunderland.