Nation comes to a standstill as we win back cricket's greatest treasure

Skipper Michael Vaughan held a replica of the famous urn after a draw at the Oval clinched a 2-1 series win against Australia.

Crickets greatest prize was back in England's hands last night after a spell-binding series against Australia had one final twist - and one final hero. The country came to a halt as Michael Vaughan's battlers forced a draw in the final Test to take the five-match contest 2-1 and win the Ashes for the first time in 18 years.

The historic moment for the 23,000 Oval crowd and millions of TV watchers came just before 6.15pm after play was stopped for bad light, with Australia needing an impossible 342 to win with little time left.

Then the celebrations started in South London. "The Ashes Are Coming Home" rang out from fans inside the ground and probably those perched on rooftops outside. Skipper Vaughan lifted aloft a replica of the famous Ashes urn, his team roared their delight and white tickertape and streamers flooded the sky.

An ecstatic lap of honour followed for a team who had fought back magnificently from crushing defeat at Lord's in the first Test in late July. Three nailbiting matches followed - with England winning two of them and one drawn.

Last night after the thrilling finale to what many experts have called the greatest series ever, the Queen and Prime Minister Tony Blair led the congratulations. Today there will be a victory parade in London, where yesterday's hero Kevin Pietersen will surely be centre stage. Pietersen, with blond streaks in his hair and bat flailing, hammered 158 with 15 fours and seven sixes to rescue England from a crisis.

When he was out with the score 308, England were ready to claim their first Ashes triumph since the 1986-7 series in Australia. South African-born Pietersen, 25, whose mother is English, said: "I am very grateful for everything that has happened today. The boys have been absolutely magnificent. Every single bloke has been very, very special."

Vaughan said: "Finally we have our hands on the little urn. It is an amazing feeling, it's been a rollercoaster. I'm sure my wife and son will say it's been a nightmare living with me for the last eight weeks."

Man of the Series Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff - 10-1 on favourite to be this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year - said: "Today has been very special, it has been really special. "We are going to enjoy this moment and I'm going to have a stinking hangover."

Aussie spin king Shane Warne, 36 today and playing his last Test here, got a rapturous reception, then said: "England were just too good."

Captain Ricky Ponting said: "It has been just the best Test series that I have ever been part of."

Teammate Justin Langer had angry words with England spectators but nothing could spoil the sporting spirit in which the series has been played.