The honour was bestowed upon Williams at a ceremony at Bath Abbey this weekend and was followed by civic reception at Bath Guildhall.

The 27-year-old becomes only the fifth person since the Second World War to be made an Honorary Freeman of the City of Bath.

The others were former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the former Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie; the great violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin and Athens 2004 Olympic gold medallist in the 4x100 metres relay Jason Gardener.

Williams, who picked up Britain's only medal in Vancouver in February, said: "Being a Freeman of the City of Bath is a huge honour and responsibility and it means so much to me.

"This is the place where I grew up, where I had my childhood and where I live."

Williams also revealed that she was taken aback to join some of the esteem names who have been made a Freeman of the City of Bath.

She said: "Being on a list with people like Winston Churchill is amazing.

"It was very nerve-wracking standing up in the Abbey today."

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