Welcome forgolden girl

FLETCHING'S Common-wealth Games hot-shot Charlotte Kerwood got a great welcome homecoming on Monday.

Charlotte, 15, won the gold medal in the double trap clay pigeon shooting event at the Games in Manchester.

Charlotte, who is the youngest female double trap shooter ever to represent her country, had a personal best score of 141 to put her seven points clear of the silver medallist, New Zealand's Nadine Stanton.

Parish councillor and welcoming party organiser Barry Dickens said: 'As soon as we heard she'd won we had a banner made for her and we put up lots of England flags.'

About 50 villagers turned out to welcome Charlotte. Barry added: 'Her dad, Dan, phoned me on his mobile on Monday to say when they'd be arriving. She was taken completely by surprise.'

Charlotte enjoyed a glass of champagne as she showed off her medal. 'It was very heavy,' said Barry. 'Perhaps, a bit too heavy for it to be solid gold!'

Villagers will be hoping for a similar homecoming party for Charlotte after the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Pictured: Fletching's show of patriotism as Charlotte proudly shows off her gold medal. L32053d