SWIMMER Alex Scotcher hasn't come down from the high of winning gold at the Commonwealth Games and he'll be on cloud nine a little longer after receiving a hero's welcome when he returned home.

Alex, 26, went back to Clanfield, to find scores of friends and neighbours waiting for him at the local pub, the Clanfield Tavern, eager to toast his success in the pool.

Alex, a student at Loughborough University, won gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the Games in Melbourne beating the highly favoured Australian team, which had defended its title in the event since 1950.

It caused a great upset down under, and consequently, the English team went on to receive much attention from the Australian press and public.

"It was amazing," said Alex.

"We were being stopped in the street in Melbourne and asked for our autographs. It's just not something that happens here, but swimming is massive in Australia and we'd beaten their sporting heroes."

Alex flew home from Melbourne on Thursday last week, and was then greeted by a pub full of people keen to see his cherished gold medal.

He said: "I received a great welcome home. Everyone came down to the pub, and they've all been admiring my medal. It's a fantastic reception. It makes it all the more special."

Since winning the medal, Alex said he has not let it out of his sight, and keeps checking it, 'just to make sure it's still there'.

"It's a fantastic-looking medal," he said. "It's going to go up in my room, and will hold a special place.

"This is by far and away my biggest achievement."

Until now, Alex's swimming career highlights included competing at the World Championships, in Barcelona, in 2003, and at the World University Games, in 2001 and 2003, at which his team won the 4x100m freestyle relay.

He has been a member of the British swimming team for the past six years, but will retire from international competition at the end of this season.

He has just finished his masters degree in European politics at Loughborough, and wants to concentrate on his career, which he ultimately hopes will see him work for the Foreign Office or the European Union.

"I'm going to call it a day after my last race in May," he said. "Swimming has been my life for the past ten years. I want to focus my energies on different challenges. There is no better way to go out."

Alex said it had been great to be part of the Games, particularly in front of a 10,000-strong crowd.

"It was a fantastic feeling seeing our swimmers winning so many medals, especially seeing the guys I train with up on the podium in the first few days," he said.

"I was so excited, I just wanted my day to come round. I really did enjoyed the whole experience. It was mind-blowing. We just don't get crowds like that watching swimming here."