Jo Pavey, a 40-year-old mother of two, last nightrolled back the years to win the 10,000 metres in Zurich, becoming the oldest ever female European champion.

Just 10 days ago, the four-time Olympian produced one of the performances of the Commonwealth Games to win bronze in the 5,000m.

She returned to the track at the Stadion Letzigrund on the opening night of the European Championships and went one better than her silver medal from Helsinki two years ago.

Showing no sign of fatigue, she stuck with a breakaway pack and took the lead with a lap to go.

The Briton kicked on down the home straight to take gold and replace Irina Khabarova - part of Russia's 4x100m relay team in 2006 at the age of 40 years and 27 days - as the oldest female European title holder.

She said: "It was really emotional to have my daughter Emily watch me for the first time. To try for so many years and to finally do it at the age of 40 is funny really. I should have learned how it do it by now."

The success of Pavey, who is also due to compete in the 5000m, will no doubt inspire her younger British team-mates - many of whom impressed in the heats, setting up a potential medal-laden haul today .

As well as Mo Farah going for 10,000m gold, Tiffany Porter has a good chance of taking the 100m hurdles crown after qualifying for the final quickest in a season's best of 12.63secs.

There are also strong British medal hopes in the men's and women's 100m sprints. Ashleigh Nelson and Desiree Henry both set personal bests in qualifying for the women's semi-finals, while Asha Philip has a good chance of a podium finish

Britain won three of the five men's 100m heats, with Dwain Chambers and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey book- ending a promising display from James Dasaolu.

The 26-year-old clocked 9.91secs last year and lookscapable of going sub-10 in Zurich today, easing in at 10.22.