GOLDEN girl Sarah Ayton is the toast of Weymouth after clinching Britain's first gold medal of the Olympics.

Sarah was part of the three-woman Yngling crew alongside Shirley Robertson and Sarah Webb which sailed to victory at the Olympic regatta.

Beaming Sarah, 24, who lives in Old Castle Road, said thinking of friends back home had spurred her on to victory.

She said: "One thing that went through my mind after winning was how pleased I was for all the people back home who have supported me."

The crew was not among the favourites for gold but Sarah said they had saved their best performance for the Olympics.

She said: "We have sailed the best we have ever sailed here this week.

"It has been a struggle at times, but everything has come together.

"I think we will have a few drinks tonight, although I think we will get drunk really quickly."

She added: "We won here at the pre-Olympics last year with pretty much the same sort of Sailing.

"But we didn't have that many bad races this time.

"It has been really useful having Shirley's Olympic experience, and that has helped a lot.

"But she treated the regatta the same as any other event, which allowed us to perform."

She said she would be meeting up with her family - mum Coleen, dad Brian and brother Daniel - who have all been in the Greek capital cheering her on.

Her boyfriend, Nick Dempsey, also from Weymouth, is competing in the Mistral class in the Olympics and is currently lying in seventh place overall.

Meanwhile, neighbours, civic leaders and local figures from the world of sailing all paid tribute to the popular sailor who joined forces with the experienced Robertson and Webb to win gold.

News of her medal success delighted her neighbours Fiona Gutteridge, 46, and her six-year-old daughter, Becky.

Fiona said: "This is wonderful, totally brilliant.

"Sarah and I chat together a lot.

"She came to live here about two years ago with her boyfriend Nick.

"She is very keen on interior design and now she will have to find a way to display her gold medal.

"I am delighted for her, I really am, and proud that a Weymouth woman has achieved our first gold medal of the Athens Olympics.

"Sarah is also a lovely down-to-earth lady and she thoroughly deserves her medal because she has worked so hard on her training before the Olympics. She is a truly dedicated sailor and someone so young - I am really impressed with her."

So is Becky, who now has one thing on her mind: when can she ask Sarah about seeing her gold medal.

Bill Ludlow, chairman of Wey-mouth and Portland Sailing Academy, said: "It's a great thrill for the sailing academy and for the people of Weymouth. It's even more exciting because our first gold medal at Athens has been awarded for sailing.

"The team started training at the academy virtually straight after Sydney and this achievement is a climax of those efforts.

"It's a tribute to the academy and the sailing waters of Weymouth and Portland, which are undoubtedly the finest in northern Europe."

Sarah is also a member of Weymouth's Castle Cove Sailing Club and trustee Brian Wilkins said everyone was delighted for her.

He added: "Our flag officers are now starting to plan a huge welcome home party for her."

Weymouth and Portland Mayor Lynne Herbert said: "This is fantastic news.

"We have such strong links with sailing so for an Olympic gold medal to be won in this sport by a competitor from Weymouth is wonderful.

"I will be holding immediate talks with council officers about a civic reception for Sarah to help mark this outstanding achievement."