IF Amy Tinkler ever had any doubt how much of a heroine she has become following the success of her bronze medal at the Rio Olympics then the open top bus tour through the streets where she lives and trains should surely have confirmed it.

Because not only did hundreds of people, young and old, line the streets to wave flags and cheer her on as she went past, they did so in torrential rain.

Leaving from an early morning street party outside her home in Bracks Farm, Bishop Auckland, the 16-year-old gymnast, accompanied by about 20 of her friends from South Durham Gymnastics Club where she trains, braved the wet conditions for the unique celebration.

Amy, wearing her Great Britain tracksuit, waved and smiled to people who had lined the streets as the bus headed into Bishop Auckland but nothing had prepared her for the first stop in the Market Place.

The area was packed with people, many of them youngsters who now want to be the next Amy Tinkler, waving flags, holding personalised banners and cheering.

She posed with her bronze medal for photographs for her ever growing fan club before heading up to the balcony at Bishop Auckland Town Hall to be presented with the mayor’s medal by the town’s mayor Councillor Ann Golightly.

From there it was time to head to Spennymoor via the annual fair in Byers Green, and not before the bus had weaved its way down Newgate Street which was filled with shoppers and staff from nearby shops who had all stopped to cheer the Durham High School pupil on.

The rain never really stopped and umbrellas failed to provide much cover on the open top bus but this didn’t stop Amy, who last week trained for the first time since the Olympics, from enjoying herself, taking photos and singing along to the music provided by Bishop FM.

She said she had been “pretty excited” about the day but never expected the welcome she received.

“It has been absolutely incredible,” she said. “The support has been absolutely amazing and I am so grateful. I never expected it to be so big.

“The whole experience has been incredible and it definitely inspires me. It has been so nice to have the support and I wouldn’t change a thing, it has been so good.”

The bus tour, which had been organised by Durham County Council, and the town councils of Bishop Auckland and Spennymoor, ended at Spennymoor Leisure Centre where there was a red carpet leading to a civic reception for her and her family, coaches and friends to enjoy.

She was presented with the chairman’s medal, as were her coaches Nicola Preston and Rachael Wright, by Durham County Council chairman Councillor Edward Bell.

Paul Anderson, of South Durham Gymnastics Club, said: “It has been unbelievable. I never thought it would be like this. It is a shame about the weather but it hasn’t spoilt the day.

“The aim was for Amy to get to the Olympics so this has been a massive achievement. The last six weeks have been thoroughly amazing, not just for Amy but for her coaches, the club and everybody.”