Catherine Zeta Jones joins chorus of support for Wales' history boys

Friday night’s 3-1 victory puts tournament debutants Wales into the semi-finals in a mouth-watering tie against Portugal that will see Real Madrid team mates Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo go head-to-head.

Thousands of Welsh fans in Lille partied into the early hours of Saturday - as did people right across the Land of My Fathers.

Town and city streets from north to south Wales, and everywhere in between, were turned into a sea of red as joyous fans sang hymns and arias into the small hours. And as the clean-up operation began on Saturday morning, Welsh fans were still in buoyant mood.

Oscar winning actress Catherine Zeta Jones showed off the victory to her 200,000 followers on Instagram by posting a photo of herself with the Welsh flag along with the caption “Cymru am byth” (Wales forever).

Zeta Jones, who was born and raised in Swansea, was one of scores of people who congratulated the team on social media.

Rockers Manic Street Preachers, whose Together Stronger (C’mon Wales) is the official Euro 2016 song for the national side, were among them. Bass player Nicky Wire tweeted: “I haven’t touched alcohol in six years very tempted ... best crack open the Ribena then.”

Wales legend Cliff Jones - one of the few surviving members of Wales’s 1958 World Cup squad - said he slept in his Welsh shirt last night “like thousands of others”.

He added: “A proud Welshman today.”

First Minister and Welsh Labour leader Carwyn Jones went liberal with the exclamation marks on his official Twitter page writing: “Incredible!!! Magnificent!!! Historic!”

Welsh football pundit and former player Robbie Savage posted on Twitter: “I cannot believe it amazing fantastic outstanding incredible and a team - Wales semi finals xx”

Comedian Rob Brydon wrote: “So proud of those boys. So proud to be Welsh. Just incredible. #WALBEL”

Singer Katherine Jenkins posted: “Yesssssssss!!!! Massive Congrats to Wales! Fantastic result... #oggioggioggi #Euro2016 #Wales #Wal”

BBC journalist Sian Williams said: “A ray of sunshine after an omni-shamble week. Well done #WAL- you have given everyone a smile with your extraordinary performances #WALBEL”

Singer and TV presenter Aled Jones wrote on Twitter: “Dwi’n caru Cymru!!! I Love Wales!! What a result - brilliant!!!! #EURO2016”

Messages of congratulations also came in from across the River Severn and throughout Europe.

Comedian and England fan David Baddiel tweeted: “Just phoned my dad. Through his dementia his excitement shone through. Thank you this glorious Welsh team.”

Belgians were also gracious in defeat - with supporters forming a guard of honour at Lille station for Welsh fans

And French sports newspaper L’Equipe plastered the Welsh team on its front page with the headline “Quelle Folie!” (what madness!)