Gold medallist Bradley Wiggins celebrates during the victory ceremony

Cameron: I wished our Olympic dreams into reality

Cameron: I wished our Olympic dreams into reality

Bradley Wiggins, Heather Stanning and Helen Glover won gold medals because of David Cameron's wishes, he suggested today.

As he returned from Northern Ireland, the prime minister joked with reporters that it had given him an opportunity to turn to the spiritual world to boost Britain's chances of success.

"I was sitting in the Wishing Chair at the Giant's Causeway and told that I could make my wish," Cameron explained.

"I'm not allowed to tell anyone what is was, but as soon as I got back and switched on my mobile phone I heard the good news."

The prime minister described Wiggins, who took the men's time trial to become Britain's most decorated Olympian, as "a true British hero".

Boris Johnson, who spent several minutes trapped on a zipline above Olympic observers this afternoon, said: "He is without doubt the most formidable man on two wheels."

Labour leader Ed Miliband commented: "A fantastic achievement by Bradley Wiggins both here and at the Tour de France. Whole country will be proud to see him top of the podium."

Rowing pair Stanning and Glover looked emotional after they became the first British female rowers to win an Olympic gold this morning, at the beginning of a remarkable day for Britain's athletes.