British Swimmers champions of Europe

Winning the championship on points, their total of 13 medals in Budapest was the best-ever haul for a British team.

Scotland's Kirsty Balfour stormed to victory with a new British record in the 200m Breaststroke.

She also joined Mel Marshall, Terri Dunning, and Fran Halsall to beat Germany and France in the Women's 4x100m on the final day of the competition.

London 2012 hopeful Halsall, 16, was particularly pleased with her performance, holding-off world record-holder Britta Steffen on the final leg.

Halsall said: "I saw her coming up on me and I thought I can't let anyone past me. It was so hard over the last 50m but I managed to hold on and I'm thrilled to get the gold."

The men's team of Liam Tancock, James Gibson, Todd Cooper and Simon Burnett won bronze in their relay final.

The strength of the British team was demonstrated in full, with 25 of the 45 athletes winning a medal of some colour.

8 August 2006