Ellie Simmonds, pictured at the Our Greatest Team parade, stopped shoppers on Saturday during a visit to Sainsbury's. Picture: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire

Shoppers were brought to a standstill in a Stratford store by the arrival of ParalympicsGB superstar Ellie Simmonds.

The double gold, silver, and bronze medallist visited Sainsbury’s supermarket in the Stratford Shopping Centre on the Broadway at around 2pm on Saturday, causing staff to consider closing trading due to the adoring crowds.

Sainsbury’s are one of the main sponsors of the Paralympic Games, and the golden girl of swimming took a tour of the store, spoke to staff and customers and posed for pictures.

To welcome Ellie, Sainsbury’s workers made cookies spelling ‘Well done, Ellie’ while she brought a signed shirt in for the employees.

Ellie’s security guards had a difficult time trying to keep the mayhem at bay as passing pedestrians showed their appreciation for the athlete who was arguably the poster girl of ParalympicsGB while Channel Four presenter Alex Thompson interviewed her outside the store.