THEY are the Paralympic heroes from the New Forest who have struck gold for the second time in three months.

Alice Tai and fellow swimmer Mickey Jones were guests of honour at a ceremony in which two gold-painted benches were unveiled in their honour.

And 17-year-old Alice could not resist the temptation to stretch out on the newly-installed seat that bears her name.

A large crowd gathered at the recreation ground in Whitefield Road, New Milton, to salute the achievements of the two athletes, who both live in the area. Proudly displaying their medals they were mobbed by wellwishers and repeatedly posed for photographs as well as receiving countless congratulations.

Mikey, who has cerebral palsy, won gold in the 400-metre S7 freestyle event at the Paralympics just weeks after his father Bernard died following a long illness.

Speaking shortly after his triumph the 22-year-old said: “My dad passed away with 58 days to go to Rio so that race was as much for him as me.

“It was hard to take initially but he has supported me for all these years and he would have wanted me to have swum my best.”

Alice won gold in the women’s 4x100m medley and bronze in the women’s 100m backstroke, having clinched gold in the IPC Swimming World Championships last year.

Born with two club feet she underwent 14 operations between the ages of 20 weeks and 12 years but has no movement in her ankles, which makes it difficult to kick in the water.

The two new benches are on opposite sides of the recreation ground.

After watching a concert staged by young musicians from Ashley Junior School the town mayor, Cllr David Hawkins, and other civic dignitaries walked to the seat named after Alice.

Cllr Hawkins said: “We in this town are as pleased as Punch at her achievement.

“Alice is a New Milton resident and it makes me prouder to think it’s home-grown talent that we are celebrating today.”

Turning to the teenage athlete he told her: “Thank you for bringing the smile back to New Milton.”

Then it was time for everyone to walk to the other side of the recreation ground to watch Mikey unveil his bench.

Cllr Hawkins told him: “I would like to thank you for all your hard work and effort, not only over the past four years but over your whole life.”

Praising his fighting spirit and determination not to give in to his condition he added: “You didn’t just say ‘I can’t do this’.”