Rebecca Adlington has been awarded the freedom of her home town of Mansfield, in celebration of her Olympic success.

The 19-year-old and Paralympian Sam Hynd, 17, were the first individuals to receive the freedom of the Nottinghamshire town.

Adlington took the Beijing Olympics by storm, first winning the women's 400m freestyle before clinching gold in the 800m freestyle.

She therefore became the most successful British swimmer in the past 100 years - this country's first Olympic swimming champion since 1988 and the first to win two Olympic golds since 1908.

Hynd won gold in the Paralympic S8 400m freestyle, breaking his own world record, as well as claiming bronze in the 200m individual medley.

Receiving her latest honour, Adlington said: "Thank you to absolutely everybody, to Mansfield.

"It's such a great honour to get this - to the family, having to put up with me. It's been the best time of my life."

After the ceremony, Mayor Tony Egginton said: "We celebrate our Mansfield ambassadors, who have put our district on the map for all the right reasons."

He told Adlington and Hynd: "You make Mansfield feel great and you make Mansfield feel extremely proud."

The accolade is the latest in Adlington's star-studded welcome home, following an open-top bus parade in August.

Mansfield's Sherwood Swimming Baths is also due to be renamed the Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre when it is reopened after refurbishment next September.