Rapturous London reception for England cricketers 

Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair (right) shakes the hand of England cricketer Kevin Pietersen during a reception at Downing St overnight (NZ time). Picture / Reuters

The England cricket team has been honoured in a massive street parade in London with more than 25 thousand people cramming into Trafalgar Square, in glorious September sunshine, with fans jumping into the fountains, draped in the red and white flag of England.

Team members were looking the worse for wear after an all night drinking session, with many players wearing sunglasses, which was not just to protect them from the glare.

The Ashes urn has been handed over at Lord's, and there has been a Downing Street reception with Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Batsman Kevin Pietersen says it has been an amazing day on the streets of London, and the profile of cricket has lifted so much in the UK.

England cricket hero Andrew Flintoff has not been to bed since the Ashes triumph more than 24 hours ago.

A merry Flintoff admitted tongue-in-cheek that the exciting thing about winning the Ashes is it means he will be awarded the freedom of Preston, his home town.

Flintoff says that means he can drive a flock of sheep through the town centre, drink for free in no less than 64 pubs and get a lift home with the police when he becomes inebriated.

England captain Michael Vaughan says the celebration is beyond a dream.

He says the players have worked hard, so the tremendous reception is reward for all the effort they have put in over the last few years.

Meanwhile, the English Cricket Board says there will not be a financial windfall from the Ashes series, because they budgeted for every seat at every match to be sold.

But ECB Chairman David Morgan says it will still be a massive boost for the game in the UK.

He says it is a bonanza in terms of public interest and it is that public interest that they need to build upon.

- NEWSTALK ZB