MERSEA sailor Saskia Clark, East Bergholt weightlifter Zoe Newson and Braintree hockey player Chloe Rogers were among the sports stars who paraded through London for the Olympic and Paralympic farewell parade.

Hundreds of thousands of people cheered on their Team GB heroes on Monday.

Saska got a silver medal in the Olympic women’s 470 class, sailing with partner Hannah Mills.

Saskia, 33, said the athletes parade was a chance to celebrate an excellent Games.

She added: “For everyone to turn out today and cheer us on is just great.

“This is our chance to say thank you to all the people who helped make it the Games what it was.

“There were so many volunteers who made it special, and it couldn’t have been as good as it was without them.”

Zoe Newson, 20, a bronze medal-winning powerlifter Paralympian, tweeted: “I have just been on television for the London parade. It’s very exciting. I have had a lot of fun. It was just awesome.”

Chloe Rogers, 27, who plays for Braintree Hockey Club, was part of the bronze medal-winning team.

She tweeted a photo of herself on one of 21 floats carrying the Team GB Olympians and Paralympians.

She said: “Thank you for everyone who turned out in London today. It’s been incredible!”

The procession of sports stars left Mansion House and made its way to the Queen Victoria Memorial, outside Buckingham Palace.

They travelled on floats grouped in alphabetical order by their sport. More than 90 per cent of Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic medallists, including heptathlete gold medal winner Jessica Ennis and wheelchair racer David Weir, took part in the parade.