England celebrate after historic Ashes win over Australia

Fans began filling the bars of the Australian city from their 10am opening time ahead of an official "end of tour" party at the Retro Hotel near the waterfront.

For the hard-core Barmy Army, who have spent tens of thousands of pounds following the England team over the past seven weeks of the Ashes tour, it was a moment almost too sweet to bear.

In pictures: England celebrate their famous victory

Jamie Gavin, 22, a trainee journalist from York, said: "I've been here since Brisbane. The amount of UK people who have defied the recession to be here has been unbelieveable. We're by far the best supported cricket team in the world and we deserve every success after 24 years. We're going to celebrate what's been a memorable day and see how it goes long into the night. I'll cry when I get home."

At the Bat and Ball pub next to the SCG, Blackheath-based film programmer Kevin Franklin, 50, said: "To win 3-1 is better than anything I could have imagined, it's been magical. It's been very expensive but worthwhile. It's the greatest sporting moment of my life."

Outside the Paragon Pub, next to Sydney's Circular Quay, a massive and noisy crowd of red and white left local commuters in no doubt as to who had the Ashes.

One defiant Australian who shouted "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie" to the crowd provoked a mocking echo of the chant in high-pitched ladies' voices.

But amid the celebrations there were a few negative notes. Former England captain Freddie Flintoff tweeted angrily about the "awful" presentation of the Ashes at the Sydney ground.

He said: "Forgot Cooky's medal, no champagne, no individual medals. The boys deserved better than that! Disgraceful!"

For the vast majority, however, it was no time for carping, only revelling in an achievement that will rank among the very highest in English sporting history. Among a host of new recruits to the Barmy Army was the 682nd Lord Mayor of London, Nick Anstee.

Mr Anstee, an investment banker who stood down from his role last year, went as far as penning a song for the fans to sing.

At the ground fewer than 100 Australian fans turned up while thousands of England supporters enjoyed the final hours of the series in fancy dress. There was a gang of Craig Davids, the Flintstones and one man dressed in a bear outfit — despite temperatures of 25 degrees centigrade. Now it's back to reality in a wet, wintry Britain.

In pictures: England celebrate their famous victory