THE BROWNLEE brothers returned home to a hero's welcome after making history in Rio - and revealed a hankering for Yorkshire fish and chips.

Alistair and Jonny flew in to be greeted by rapturous applause from crowds at Leeds Bradford Airport after their record-breaking Olympic triumph.

The local heroes, who grew up in Horsforth and later moved to Bramhope, became the first British brothers to take silver and gold in an individual Olympic event - with Alistair becoming the first triathlete ever to retain an Olympic title.

And as the waiting crowds celebrated their success Alistair told them "It is fantastic to be home", while Jonny admitted "Bramhope Fisheries is calling."

It was a message which went down well with people in the village where the medal winning brothers are firm favourites

and where their previous Olympic successes have been marked with a statue.

Bramhope councillor John Howard said the whole village was delighted by their success.

"Superior training, shrewd tactics in the bike section and their exceptional athletic qualities won through to an unparalleled achievement. The village is very proud of their most famous residents," he said.

"They are a tremendous role model for the young, visiting Bramhope Primary School regularly to inspire the children with a love of sport and achievement. They support local charities, always bringing a team to the annual quiz in early November at the Fox which raises funds for a range of charities.

"They are unfailingly smiling, polite and unassuming; great ambassadors for the village, Yorkshire and Great Britain. It was so typical of them that when interviewed at Leeds Bradford Airport they complimented the village fish and chip shop."

Bramhope and Carlton Parish Council has publicly congratulated the brothers on their achievement with a post on the village website.

Council Chairman Simon Cooper said: "We now have a dilemma. How do we commemorate success at a second Olympics? Shane Green's sculpture 'Triathlon', sited in the Jubilee Copse linear park and unveiled by the Brownlees in October 2013 was the ideal way to mark gold and bronze in London. I'm sure that residents will wish us to celebrate gold and silver in Rio. Equalling the statue will be a challenge."

In Horsforth where the brothers grew up and where a pub has been named in their honour Coun Chris Townsley said: "Congratulations to both, I never doubted that would bring in the gold and silver. They have done G.B. Yorkshire, Leeds and more importantly Horsforth proud. What else can we name after them in recognition of their fantastic efforts?"

Adel and Wharfedale councillor Barry Anderson said: "They are an excellent example to all young people showing the results of hard work and dedication to their sport and a single minded approach to reaching their goal. It was particularly pleasing that Alistair created history by retaining his Gold medal from the London Olympics but Johnny should feel equally proud in going up from Bronze to Silver. I have no doubt they were able to spur each other on to produce their best. I am aware that Leeds City Council are going to recognise all of our Olympians with a celebratory event.”

Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland also congratulated the brothers.

"After all their hard work and training, this is a fantastic achievement for them both and they’ve made everyone in Leeds and across Britain extremely proud of them, " he said. "Team GB’s fantastic medal haul gives the whole country so much to celebrate. With our own local Olympic medallists in Alistair and Jonny, people across Leeds will be celebrating even more."

Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough MP Stuart Andrew Stuart Andrew described the brothers as "great representatives of Yorkshire grit and determination".

"It was great to watch the Brownlee brothers be so successful in the Olympics – the entire country got behind them, and they have made our area very proud," he said.