Millions of people worldwide watched Torvill and Dean's dazzling performance

England have

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have been crowned the Olympic ice skating champions after scooping gold in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.

More than 24 million people watched the British couple score maximum points at the Zetra Stadium for their slow, sensuous free dance performance of Ravel's Bolero.

It was an overwhelming St Valentine's Day victory for the duo in an event traditionally dominated by Soviet skaters.

The couple from Nottingham received a standingovationfrom the 8,500 spectators in the arena and flowers rained onto the ice after they completed their stirring four-minute performance.

They scored 12 out of 18 possible sixes for their free dance and the maximum possible of nine sixes for artistic impression.

Torvill smiled as the gold medal was hung around her neck and Dean had to fight back tears as he stood on the Olympic podium to receive his award.

"Tonight we reached the pinnacle. I don't remember the performance at all. It just happened," Dean said.

"But I think it was the most emotional performance we have ever given. What just happened out there - getting the medals - that is what we've worked for so hard for so long."

Torvill added: "I just don't believe it. I don't think we'll get to bed tonight at all. I just want to say hello and thank the people of Nottingham."

Natalya Bestemianova and Andrei Bukin, from the Soviet Union took the silver medal while the American skaters Judy Blumberg and Michael Seibert picked up the bronze.

Princess Anne, who has been in the front row for all their Olympic performances, congratulated the pair on their victory.

The Queen also sent a telegramme commending the British couple on their outstanding achievement.

Throughout the Olympics they have picked up three sixes for the first time in the tournament's history and another four for their Original Set Pattern Dance which, with their gold finish, gives them a career total of 107 perfect marks, more than any previous skaters.

Torvill and Dean now have only their world championship to defend before starting a lucrative professional career.

The German city has been devastated by heavy bombing

The city is reported to be a vital command centre for the German defence against Soviet forces approaching from the east.

Last night, 800 RAF Bomber Command planes let loose 650,000 incendiaries and 8,000-lbs high explosives and hundreds of 4,000-lbs bombs in two waves of attack. They faced very little anti-aircraft fire.

As soon as one part of the city was alight, the bombers went for another until the whole of Dresden was ablaze.

"There were fires everywhere with a terrific concentration in the centre of the city," said one Pathfinder pilot.

RAF crew reported smoke rising to a height of 15,000 ft (4,572 m).

This was followed by another attack in daylight by 311 US heavy bombers.

The Americans sent 450 B-17 Flying Fortress long-range bombers which arrived at 1230 local time. The pilots witnessed fires still blazing from the night before.

The same number of bombers flew to the city of Chemnitz, south-west of Dresden, to attack railways and factories and yet more attacked Magdeburg.

A major road bridge across the Rhine at Wesel was also hit.

The Times newspaper reports 19 German planes destroyed along with 98 locomotives and 185 railway cars.

Dresden is regarded by the Allies as the centre of its rail network linking eastern and southern Germany with Berlin, Prague and Vienna.

Last night, the RAF also hit oil plants at Nuremberg, Bonn and Dortmund.

Fighter Command Spitfires also pinpointed V weapons sites in the Netherlands that have launched hundreds of flying bombs against England in the last year.

ovation: enthusiastic recognition (especially one accompanied by loud applause)（大聲喝彩）