Ashes victory sparks scenes of joy (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Ashes victory sparks scenes of joy

Jubilation and champagne for David Cousens, Ian Bell, Nick Bowles and Neill Marrin Picture Ref: 99254-31SWINDON celebrated as England clinched the Ashes in dramatic fashion.

England cricket fans were kept on tenterhooks until 6.15pm yesterday when the umpires removed the bails to signal the long-awaited victory.

By that point dozens of Swindonians were packed into Australian bar Walkabout to celebrate England's first Ashes win since the 1986-7 tour of Australia.

"It is just absolutely brilliant," said Simon Bowles, 32, a security guard who lives in the town centre.

"It has been a brilliant test series. No-one gave England a chance at the start but we absolutely deserved it. It has been a long time coming but it is worth it.

"It makes you proud to be English. The footballers have got a lot to learn from these boys."

Keith Larbey, 35, a taxi driver from Park North, returned from holiday in Cyprus just in time for the final day's play.

"We have been following it on holiday," he said. "We are just glad to be back to see it finish.

"Normally I am into rugby but obviously this has been so close a lot of people have turned to cricket.

"And I couldn't think of a better pub to watch it in."

But not everyone in the Fleet Street pub was happy with the victory.

Deputy manager Sam Hargreaves, who comes originally from Melbourne, may have sold more champagne than on a normal Monday afternoon but he was not pleased with the cause of the celebrations.

"I am gutted," he said. "Very gutted. But I suppose it is all right for them to win one every 20 years. I can handle one every 20 years."

Fellow Aussie Brett Segelov was watching the match with English friends.

"I am a bit gutted," said the 21-year-old, who was born in Sydney but has lived in Swindon for eight years.

"But, fair play, they deserved it. It has been a diamond of a test, it has been brilliant."

Kevin Pietersen was the hero of the day after scoring a maiden Test century which helped England to 335 in their second innings, setting Australia a practically impossible target.

The Aussies did go out to bat but the teams went off for bad light after they scored just four runs and England's victory was confirmed when the umpires returned call the match to a halt.

Isabel Field