AROUND 60,000 people packed out Bournemouth Beach to cheer their new champions home in style.

Cherries boss Eddie Howe, chairman Jeff Mostyn and all the players were hailed heroes as they took an open top bus parade along the seafront, from Boscombe to Bournemouth Pier.

A sea of red and black, three times as large as organisers had anticipated, stretched as far as the eye could see - even a small flotilla of yachts had turned out for the historic occasion.

Thousands of fans shadowed the bus from Boscombe Pier, chanting 'We are Premier League' and 'Eddie Howe's Barmy Army'.

Our live coverage of the parade

Among those gathered was an emotional Arthur Downs.

He told the Echo: "I started supporting Bournemouth when I was just two. My father would tell my mum 'I'm going to the match this afternoon' and she used to say 'OK, but you're taking him with you.' So he'd carry me in. I was two then, and I'm 85 now.

"So 82, 83 years a supporter, and I never thought I'd see this day."

Fan Rick Bowden also thought he'd never see the day AFCB were promoted to the Premier League.

"I'm here to support the boys, this season has been unprecedented. I couldn't get tickets for Monday night's game, so this is my way of saying thank you to the team."

Up the Cherries! All our stories since AFCB's promotion

Fan Danny Lisk said: "It is brilliant for the town, brilliant for the club. I've been going to Bournemouth since 1987.

"I was there when they had no money. It is massive for the town and I'm looking forward to entertaining Chelsea at home."

Meanwhile, James Champion described the occasion as "really emotional." He recalled how he was at the Winter Gardens meeting when the club was facing financial ruin.

"I remember that night well. I'd been to the bank and taken out all the money I had, then just put it in Matt Holland's bucket.

Want a copy of today's commemorative edition? Order it here

"My nephews hadn't actually been born by that night, but I just wanted them to be able to have the opportunity of watching their local team play when they were older.

"It has been a rollercoaster and without Mr Mostyn they wouldn't have this opportunity today."

Nigel Allo, who watched his first Bournemouth game in 1967, told the Echo: "We were playing at Chester a few years ago, nearly going out of business. It doesn't matter what teams will be coming to play us, it's just great to see good football through the season."

Terry Burden said: "I've been watching them play since 1948.

"In 1956/57 when we had the big cup run I went to Wolverhampton. Of course, one of our players Reggie Culter broke the post, causing a bit of a hold up. At the end of the game I was holding the cup, just a cardboard cut out but I have no idea how I got it. But even that doesn't compare to today.This is simply fantastic."