LEIGH MP Andy Burnham has commended the decision to hold the official Team GB Olympics homecoming parade in Greater Manchester for the first time.

The country’s sporting heroes secured second place in the Olympic medal table at the Rio Games, with their 67 medals including 27 golds.

This represents the best Olympic medal haul on foreign soil in Great Britain’s history and the government is now organising an official parade through the streets of Manchester and a secondary parade in London, with both to take place in October.

Mr Burnham, who is the favourite to become the first Mayor of Greater Manchester next year, said: “We will have a chance to welcome our athletes home in Manchester.

“I think this will send a really strong message to London that the whole country is not based there and give a chance for the people here to come out and celebrate.

“I also think it gives official recognition to Jason Kenny, Laura Trott and the whole of the cycling team, based at the Manchester Velodrome, who have been the engine of Team GB’s success, in my opinion.”

Bolton boxing star Amir Khan, who won a silver medal for Team GB at the Athens Olympics in 2004, joined Mr Burnham in backing the idea of bringing the official parade up north.

He said: “I think it is time we started sharing these events with London and bringing them further north where many of our top athletes are from and train.”

The government is working with the British Olympic Association, British Paralympic Association, Manchester City Council and the Mayor of London’s office to organise the events in the two cities.