IF bonfire-building was an Olympic sport the Trent Bridge Rotary Club would have won gold.

But even the colossal pile of blazing wood at the Nottingham Moderns rugby ground, Wilford, could not take attention away from the stars of the show – Notts' Olympians.

Double gold-medallist Rebecca Adlington was at the Guy Fawkes Night celebrations with her family.

The Mansfield swimmer said she was enjoying the atmosphere at Notts' largest charity bonfire.

She said: "We never normally do anything for bonfire night – not since we were small – so it's nice to be here.

"The bonfire here is huge."

Canoeist David Florence, who won silver in Beijing, said he and kayaker Campbell Walsh were regulars at the Wilford event.

He said: "We both live in The Meadows and so we come every year.

"The bonfire is pretty massive – I'd forgotten just how big it was going to be."

David added the pair were already in training for their next contests.

Campbell, who competes in the kayak single, is looking forward to racing at Holme Pierrepont next year.

He said: "It's the European Championships next year and I'm currently reigning champion so it'll be great to defend the title on my home course."

Beijing gymnast Becky Downie, from Mapperley, and Notts Gym Club team-mate Laura Jones, who was forced to pull out of the Games through injury, and their coach Claire Starkey were also at the event, which raised money for children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent and Leukaemia Research.

On stage the Olympians urged any young sport players in the 3,000-strong crowd to pursue their dreams.

Rebecca said: "We're looking towards 2012 and any young people who have a dream to compete in sport should go for it.

"We'd encourage them to get involved."

The group then signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans.

The crowds, who braved pouring rain and icy temperatures, were also treated to performances by Wilford Emmanuel School Dance Club and a fire show, with dancers swinging fire balls through the air.

Warming up by the bonfire was Lucy Griffin, 33, from Gotham, who had brought her son Caleb, five.

She said: "He's been really looking forward to the fireworks. He loves them. It is freezing but we've put on lots of layers."

Neil Towse, 44, a transport manager from The Meadows said: "It's the biggest bonfire I've ever seen. It's been getting bigger and bigger over the past month. It's amazing."

The evening was rounded off with half an hour of spectacular fireworks.

Organiser Roger Steel, of the Rotary Club, said: "It's been a good night. We hope to have raised £20,000."

sarah.firth@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk