Olympic triple jump gold medallist Jonathan Edwards returned to a hero's welcome today.

The 34-year-old athlete flew back to the region and was then bestowed the freedom of his home borough of Gateshead.

Edwards told a press conference that he had yet to come to terms with his achievement and revealed that his first appointment had been to show off his medal at his son's Gosforth school.

He paid tribute to his wife Alison and father-in-law Ralph Briggs after they persuaded him to remain in Sydney despite the death of his mother-in-law while he was in Australia.

He said: ''If Alison had said come back home I would have done so, but she and Ralph were a tower of strength.''

Asked how it felt to be an Olympic champion, he said: ''I still can't quite take it in. I am still lost for words.''

A committed Christian, Edwards repeated his belief that faith had been a factor in his triple jump victory.

The ''twin focuses'' of his family and God had helped him come to terms with the bereavement, which had almost seen him return from Australia before the competition began.

With sons Nathan, five, and Sam, seven, at his side today, the athlete said the ''pressure was now off'' and was looking forward to spending more time with the family.

Bestowing the freedom of the borough, Gateshead Council leader George Gill said: ''A gold medal is not only a personal triumph for Jonathan but gives a great boost to the region. ''He is a great ambassador for the North East as well as an important role model.''

Edwards won the gold with a jump of 17.71 metres.

Read more about the region's Olympians here.