One such location was London's St Pancras International rail station from where the French, Dutch and Belgian athletes (pictured top) were ferried to their home countries via specially chartered services laid on by Eurostar, the Official International Rail Services Provider to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Among the notable athletes were Dutch gold medallist Marianne Vos, who won the women's cycling road race, and France's Camille Muffat, who clinched victory in the women's 400 metres freestyle swimming along with a silver and bronze medal.

French swimming star Camille Muffat displays her medals before leaving St Pancras International

Continuing the carnival atmosphere from the spectacular Closing Ceremony, the departing athletes were greeted on the St Pancras platform by Beatles tribute band The Beatlez, who sang, appropriately, Hello, Goodbye and other Beatles hits, and members of the Royal College of Music brass band.

To provide a fitting end to their time in London, the country's medal winners were presented with bouquets of flowers as they boarded their trains.

Mary Walsh, Eurostar director of communications, said: "St Pancras has been awash with sports fans and athletes throughout the Games and it has been a tremendously exciting place to be."

Eurostar is also a partner of both the French and Belgian National Paralympic Committees, and will shuttle the country's athletes to and from London on specially adapted trains for the Paralympic Games, which start on August 29.

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