By Richard Gibson, PA Sport

Britain's Olympic curling heroines returned home on Tuesday a tired bunch but were immediately making plans for extended celebrations.

The women's curling team, skipped by Rhona Martin, arrived back at Heathrow at 12.15pm and were met by a horde of media crews.

A little over a fortnight ago few in the country had heard of the Scottish quintet - Janice Rankin, Fiona MacDonald, Debbie Knox and Margaret Morton were also in the team - but last Thursday's gold medal success with a last-gasp win over Switzerland in Salt Lake City has made them national treasures.

After their touchdown on home soil, however, they were soon made aware of their new-found status, which is to be marked with a reception at Martin's Greenacres Curling Club in East Ayrshire tonight.

"We were curling over 10 or 11 days or so, so afterwards we just wanted to relax for a few days," said Martin.

"We didn't do much apart from go to the medal plaza to collect our medals, we talked to a few of the other athletes and looked around the Olympic village.

"To be honest, it's a good feeling to be home and I'm very impressed with the reception - I wasn't expecting this at all."

It proved quite a contrast to when the five 'Scottish housewives', as they have been dubbed, left for the United States as part of Great Britain's most successful Winter Olympic team for 66 years.

"When we left it wasn't as big as this and we haven't hit Scotland yet so there will be a few more people welcoming us back up there."

Simon Clegg, the British Olympic team's chef de mission, said of the British performance in Salt Lake City: "It's been a long hard games and to return as the most successful team since 1936 feels wonderful.

"That's down to the athletes and their dedication and the effort they have put in, not just over the last 16 days but over the last few months and years."