A Havering councillor had a front row view of Britain’s athletic heroes and rubbed shoulders with a celebrity on Monday.

Having performed as a dancer in the electrifying Olympic Opening Ceremony, Cllr Michael Deon Burton (Independent Residents’ Association, South Hornchurch) was invited to Central London on Monday to watch the athlete’s parade.

He was part of the Games Maker section, near The Mall, reserved for volunteers who helped the running of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

While there, he bumped into comedian, and Games Maker, Eddie Izzard, as well as Havering volunteers Anil Tejura from Romford and fellow Opening Ceremony performer Mehmet Ali, from Gidea Park.

Cllr Burton said: “It was marvellous. The athletes held signs to thank us and we stood in front of them in turn.

“Then the Red Arrows flew overhead and everyone who was there felt ten feet tall, they were flying in the clouds themselves.”