OLYMPIC hero Ben Ainslie will be given an open-top bus tour of his home town next week.

Thousands of people are expected to line the streets of Lymington when the most successful sailor in Olympic history rides through the town on Tuesday.

Ben, 35, will stand on the top deck of a double-decker bus operated by the New Forest Tour, which normally takes tourists around the district.

The vehicle will follow the route taken by the Olympic flame when it passed through Lymington on July 14.

Ben will pass the High Street post box that has been painted gold in recognition of his medal-winning triumph in the Finn class at Weymouth last month. He had already won three gold medals and a silver at previous Games.

Town mayor Jacqui England, who has organised the event, said: “He will get an amazing reception. The atmosphere will be electric.”