Scots struck a seam of gold and silver yesterday after a spectacular opening day at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing.

Aileen McGlynn, 35, from Glasgow, successfully defended her cycling title and Jim Anderson, 45, from Broxburn, won his 14th Paralympic medal with silver in swimming.

McGlynn, with her Welsh pilot rider Ellen Hunter, won the women's B&VI 1-3 one kilometre time trial.

McGlynn, who is registered blind, also broke her world record in a time of 1min, 9.066secs.

Afterwards she said: "We're absolutely delighted to have broken the world record and the Paralympic record. It was a hard ride but we knew we had it in us to do the time."

The duo had expected to deliver, but did not let that affect their performance.

"You just have to put the training in and have confidence in the training you do all year long and it's all going to work out on the day."

Anderson - a four-time champion in Athens who has cerebral palsy - won silver in the S2 200m freestyle. He said: "I'm happy. My time could have been quicker in the final but I know I have enough left for my next three events."

Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell paid tribute to the Scots victories: "Glasgow and the whole of Scotland are proud of Aileen after her gold medal success in Beijing.

"It is a fantastic start and hopefully the first of many medals for Scotland's athletes competing in the GB team."

"Well done to James Anderson for bagging his swimming silver in the 200m freestyle, his 14th Paralympic medal in a brilliant career."

He added that First Minister Alex Salmond would be hosting a reception in Stirling Castle for all Scotland's Paralympians on their return.

Great Britain stormed to joint first place in the medal table at the end of day one with four gold medals.

Simon Richardson won the first of three cycling golds as Britain extended their dominance of the Laoshan Velodrome track.

Darren Kenny also successfully defended his cycling titles and swimmer Sascha Kindred took inspiration from the cyclists to win gold - his fifth Paralympic title - at the Water Cube.

Three further medals were won in the pool to take Britain's total to seven.