Triumphant athletes who formed part of the Great Britain team at the Special Olympics in China recently were given a hero's welcome upon their return to Glasgow on Monday.

More than fifty athletes and coaches from the west of Scotland who formed part of the successful British squad were met by family and friends at Glasgow airport, many laden with medals and each rich with memories of the three-week competition in Shanghai.

In total the 159-strong British team racked-up an incredible 224 medals, 84 of which were gold, in events such as badminton, cycling, gymnastics, judo, kayaking and tennis in a variety of individual and team disciplines.

The Great Britain men's football 11-a-side team secured gold in their event after a nerve-jangling penalty shoot-out success 5-3 over Russia in the final.

The match was so close that one of the team doubted they'd come out on top.

David Daly, 22, from Glasgow said: "I thought that was it, we were going to get beaten, because the British always miss their penalties, but when our last one went in the whole place went mad."

Team-mate Thomas Cochrane, 23, added: "It was electrifying in the stadium. There were a lot of fans watching us and we're just proud to win the gold medal."

The entire team were given access to top facilities and enjoyed spectacular opening and closing ceremonies at the spectacular 80,000-capacity Shanghai Stadium, and Steven Turner, 28, coach of the men's basketball team, said the experience was one to remember.

He said: "We were treated like royalty. The Chinese were really interested in the Games and looked after us very well."

Leanne Woolfe, 31, from Glasgow, who captained the British women's basketball team to fourth place, revealed she fulfilled another special role at the event: She said: "I was really proud to lead the Great Britain team out at the opening ceremony, which was just fantastic."

Unlike commercially-sponsored athletes at the Olympic Games and Paralympics, athletes have to pay their own way to compete at the Special Olympics.

Debbie Woolfe, Leanne's mother, said: "Leanne always said she wanted to get to the Olympics and she's done it, and I just think it's a wonderful experience and achievement.

"We did a lot of fundraising and hard work over the past year but it has paid off, and I'd do it all again."