Local MPs and politicians are falling over themselves to claim a tenuous link to Britain's Olympic success. After his attempts to woo Maidenhead constituency firm Microsoft, Rob Wilson has made a desperate attempt to bask in the glory of the Olympic Rowers who train over the border in the Henley constituency.

In a press release he said: "I think that the least we can do is hold a civic reception to thank athletes who live vaguely near Reading for their efforts and give them recognition for all the hard work and preparation they have put in over the past few years in preparation for the Games in Beijing. It is only right that the town should honour the men and women who may have alighted at Reading Station on their way to the Redgrave-Pinsent rowing lake in South Oxfordshire, or perhaps have got lost and had to double back to Sonning bridge at the Shepherd's Hill roundabout. And what better way to celebrate this tenuous link with Beijing success than to have a civic reception so that I can have my photograph taken with the medalists. It will be a great honour for them."