Ellen MacArthur finished second in the Vendee Globe yacht race last night to become the fastest woman and youngest person to circumnavigate the globe in a single-handed race.

The 24-year-old, from land-locked Derbyshire, received a tumultuous welcome from tens of thousands of spectators as she finally arrived at port in Les Sables d'Olonne, France, at 7.37pm.

Looking overwhelmed as her yacht Kingfisher finally came to dock, MacArthur was handed a magnum of champagne by Vendee Globe race director Philippe Jeantop.

When asked how she felt to be back, she would only reply: "Fine."

She then shook the champagne in jubilant celebration.

Talking to the mass of 500 reporters, Ellen said: "It feels like too much. I never imagined it would be like this."

She then embraced her parents - father Ken and mother Avril.

Overcome with emotion she said: "It's a very, very special day. I didn't really know what to expect. Nothing ever prepared me for expecting anything like this.

"The worst moment is when I have to get off the boat. I do not want to have to say goodbye to her."

She then burst into tears and kissed her yacht, crying with her head resting on the top of the cabin.

MacArthur finally walked along Kingfisher's deck before setting foot on dry land for the first time in three long months.

Her reception was even bigger than that for the winner Michel Desjoyeaux, who finished yesterday.

All the way in, she was swamped by an armada of craft and media helicopters, plus waves and cheers along the harbour walls, in a show of affection by the French people.

Such is MacArthur's appeal that organisers had to lay on ten extra boats to ferry out the world's media.

As she was followed, Mac-Arthur, enjoying her moment, punched the air in jubilation.

She completed the 24,000-mile race in 94 days, four hours and 30 minutes, and she will pick up a £40,000 prize