THOUSANDS of people are expected to line the streets of Tredegar  to welcome home Paralympics hero Mark Colbourne.

The cyclist, who scooped a gold and silver medal at the London event, will be carried in an open top bus, as the town marks what Mr Colbourne calls an epic journey.

Follow Mark Colbourne's welcome home with the Argus

Our reporter Chris Wood will be tweeting from Tredegar, so use the hashtag #markwelcome to join in the conversation.

He said: “Coming home to Wales is always a great feeling of joy and such a happy occasion for me, however, to see everyone celebrate my success will give me such a buzz that will stay with me for years to come.”

The event has been organised by Tredegar Town Council, with the bus leaving the Bevan Memorial Stones, Bryn Serth, at 11am.

It will then travel down Beaufort Road and along the bypass to the Crown roundabout before moving through Ashvale and Sycamore Avenue, to Stockton Way.

There will then be a loop through the one-way system in the town, past Gwent Shopping Centre and along Commercial Street with a photo at the golden postbox, painted to commemorate Mr Colbourne’s success.

After travelling past the town clock, down Morgan Street and across Boulevard d’Orvault, the bus journey will finish at Bedwellty Park, where Mr Colbourne will take to the bandstand to say a few words.

Leader of Tredegar Town Council Malcolm Cross said: “He is a fantastic role model and deserves recognition for his breathtaking performances at the Games.”

Blaenau Gwent AM Alun Davies called on all locals to turn up and show Mr Colbourne how proud they are of him.

See a larger route map:

%image(2172260 )