Great Britain’s record-breaking Olympics in Rio has been hailed as “the best sporting achievement” in the country’s history by chef de mission Mark England.

Team GB brought back 67 medals, their highest number from an overseas Games and a total that exceeded their haul from the London 2012 Games.

A large number of athletes arrived at Heathrow shortly before 10am (England time), having flown home on a chartered British Airways flight.

The team were shown singing God Save The Queen ahead of take-off, with BA providing 77 extra bottles of champagne on a special plane that was emblazoned with ‘victoRIOus’ and featured a gold-coloured nose.

Having become the first nation to beat their medal total from a preceding home Olympics, England was full of praise for Team GB’s efforts.

“I think it is the best sporting achievement by any team in British sporting history,” he said.

“I think when we arrived just an hour or so ago it was overwhelming the reception that we got, not just from British Airways but also everyone who is in Terminal 5.

“It gave an immediate sense of the enormity of the achievement British athletes have posted in Rio.”

Double gold medal-winning gymnast Max Whitlock and Nicola Adams – who defended her women’s flyweight boxing gold – were chosen to lead Team GB off the plane once it landed at Heathrow.

The 11-hour flight back to London saw the athletes post several pictures to social media.

Rower Helen Glover, who took her second successive gold medal in the women’s coxless pairs, revealed how the passengers had started their journey home.

“Team GB just stood up before the flight left and belted out ‘God Save The Queen’ as it played over the tannoy. #proud,” she tweeted.

Double gold-winning gymnast Whitlock showed off some moves on the plane, with flight number BA2016 welcomed into its bay by a host of airport staff and media.