The sprinters, who also took individual silver medals in last month's Commonwealth Games in Delhi as well as earning gold as part of the sprint relay team, lost their top-tier lottery funding last October.

But both are in the podium category in today's list, which contains the names of 96 Olympic and 36 Paralympic athletes entitled to funding in the next year from November to October 2011.

"I am delighted to be back on funding," said Lewis-Francis.

"It will let me focus on my training with the knowledge that I have new support.

"Last year was a difficult year but with the support network I had around me, especially in my coach Linford [Christie], I was able to bring back medals for my country from the major championships.

"It has been an incredible year and one I am confident I can build on for 2011 and beyond."

Chris Thompson, European 10,000m silver medallist, has also returned to the highest funding level, while younger talents Perry Shakes-Drayton, European bronze medallist in the 400m hurdles, and Hannah England, fourth in the Commonwealth Games 1500 final, have completed a rise through the talent and development levels.

One athlete dropping down from podium to talent level is the former Olympic bronze medallist and Commonwealth champion Kelly Sotherton, who is giving up the heptathlon after numerous injuries.

Instead, at 33, she will seek to earn a place at the London 2012 Games in the 400m.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of qualifying for what should be a superb team in 2012," said Sotherton.

"If everybody is fit we've got Christine Ohuruogu, Nicola Sanders, Perri Shakes-Drayton, Marilyn Okoro and Lee McConnell, so it's not going to be easy.

"But I'm a hungry competitor and I've been part of it before so there's no reason why I can't be a part of it again, and even perhaps in the individual event."

UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee (pictured) said: "Athletes must prove themselves continuously to maintain their position on the programme, which has performance at its core, and we must demonstrate a clear return on investment to the lottery-playing public.

"They want to see winners in British vests.

"There is no denying that, with two years to go, all eyes are firmly fixed on the 2012 Olympic Games but 2011 really is crucial to any potential successes in London.

"I am confident the group of athletes selected will be among those competing at the eight international events this year and will represent themselves and the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland team well on the international stage."

All medallists from the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing retain their place on podium funding, in line with the selection policy.

Newly established European champions Dai Greene, Andy Turner and double gold medallist Mo Farah proved themselves against the best in Europe and also retain a podium place.

Other athletes moving up through the WCPP include Jemma Simpson, Michael Rimmer and Rhys Williams demonstrating a clear success within the system.

World Junior Championships gold medallist Sophie Hitchon and IWAS triple gold medallist Dan Lucker have earned their places on the development squad list alongside talents such as Andrew Osagie, Commonwealth sprint hurdles bronze medallist Lawrence Clarke, Brett Morse and Laura Whittingham.

Youngsters Jack Meredith, David Bolarinwa, Holly Bleasdale, Andrew Sutcliffe and Katarina Thompson have also been given a boost early on in their careers.

Only eight of the Paralympic programme athletes were reviewed during the funding selection reviews as all others were selected for the IPC World Championships in January 2011 and subsequently automatically retained until March 1, 2011.

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