CHEERS & TEARS

Crowds pack pubs & parks as more than 20m tune in to final. Supporters speak of pride in Lionesses after losing big game

- ANDY LINES Chief Reporter, BARBARA HODGSON, ETHAN DAVIES and MAISIE LAWTON

TEARS were shed across the nation as the Lionesses valiantly lost the World Cup final.

But with an expected UK TV audience of 20 million - with the game shown on both the BBC and ITV and many more watching at public screenings and in the pub - there were cheers too.

There was an overwhelming sense of love for the team who played with style and dignity.

Lucy Bronze's gran Gloria StapyIton watched at the Ponteland Leisure Centre, Northumberland.

At times she had her head in her hands as she cheered the 31-year-old on. There were similar scenes in Killamarsh, Derbys, where England captain Millie Bright played for the village's Dynamos.

Midfielder Ella Toone's family watched in their local the Union Arms in Tyldesley, Gtr Manchester.

Jack Toone, her brother, said: "It for the all the was a buzzing atmosphere whole team. She inspires young girls, even the men everyone around here.

"It has people believe [they] can achieve great things like she's doing. I couldn't be any more proud of her." Her auntie, Nichola, added: "We're still going to party here when she comes home, we're going to celebrate because she's a winner - she's won in our eyes."

That seemed to sum up the mood of the day.