England’s Rugby World Cup triumph is to be celebrated with a parade through central London early next month, it has been confirmed.

The players will travel along the parade route, which starts at Marble Arch and finishes at Trafalgar Square, in an open-topped bus on Monday, December 8.

The players admitted they were surprised by the level of welcome when they flew into Heathrow earlier this week with the World Cup, to be greeted by 8000 delighted fans.

Thousands more will turn out for the victory parade, which leaves Marble Arch about midday to travel along Oxford St, into Regent St and then down Haymarket, to finish at 1pm.

Players and management will then go to a Rugby Football Union function, and then meet with the Queen, before meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair.