Britain's first medal winner at the Winter Olympics in the USA today thanked people in Sussex for their support.

Alex Coomber, 28, an RAF intelligence officer who grew up in Rustington, near Littlehampton, described her joy at securing bronze in the women's skeleton bobsleigh competition last night.

Speaking from Salt Lake City before collecting her bronze medal, she told our reporter: "I feel absolutely fantastic.

"It is an amazing feeling to know I am not only the world champion but now have an Olympic medal.

"It was tough because I was against the Americans on their own track, and they were not the best weather conditions.

"The track was okay but I did take a couple of knocks on the way round. There are some things you can't control."

She said the fact she had won a medal, becoming only the 18th British medal winner at the Winter Olympics in history, had not yet sunk in.

She was cheered on in Salt Lake City by sisters Ursula and Ronnie and her husband Eric.

She said: "The atmosphere and support today was just excellent. There were so many British flags, especially at the beginning of the course.

"I didn't realise how much there would be. I would like to thank everyone in Sussex for their support."

Her husband, also her coach, said: "I am so proud of Alex.

"We know life will never be the same again. We want to enjoy every minute of it.

"We want to thank everyone in Sussex for their support. It has meant a lot to us. The medal should be a real boost to people in Britain."

Meanwhile Alex's mother, Rosemary Hamilton, watched her daughter on TV from her home in Rustington.

She said: "To get a bronze is fantastic. I am so proud. I can't wait to congratulate her."