Gardener holds the European indoor record

Jason Gardner's blistering indoor season continued with victory in the 60m at the inaugural European Indoor Cup.

The 27-year-old's devastating display showed his build-up to the World Indoor Championships in March remains right on track.

Hayley Tullett also raised British hopes by holding off tough competition to win the women's 1500m.

There were also heartening displays from Jamie Baulch and Catherine Murphy who both finished in second in their respective 400m races.

Gardener hardly broke sweat as he sprinted to an easy victory over Greece's Aristotelis Gavelis and Andrey Yepishin of Russia in 6.55 seconds.

The "Bath Bullet" said he was particularly satisfied with his performance because he has just recovered from a bad cold.

I would have liked to have run faster 400m runner Jamie Baulch

"I've been on anti-biotics most of the week but managed to fit in a couple of training sessions," said Gardener.

"With this being a straight final I am more than happy with the time.

"If there had been heats I'm sure I would have run faster."

Women's team captain, Tullett used all her experience in the 1500m, saving enough energy for a sprint finish over the last 200m.

The 29-year-old held off two strong challenges to win in 4 minutes and 08.63 seconds.

Catherine Murphy also showed she is almost back to her best in the 400m despite having to settle for second spot behind Germany's Grit Breuer.

Tullett is back after a serious foot injury

Murphy, who is making her comeback from a foot injury, ran superbly to win her race in 52.63 seconds.

But because the indoor track in Leipzig has only four lanes, the final is run as two separate contests.

Breuer knew what she had to do and pulled away in the second race to win in 51.91 secs, enough to snatch overall first spot from Murphy.

But the Welsh runner was more than happy to settle for second spot.

"I'm absolutely delighted with my run, particularly after the serious injury I had," said Murphy.

It was a similar story in the men's race for team captain Jamie Baulch.

Baulch looked on song as he won the first 400m race in 46.99 secs but the Welshman suffered the same fate as Murphy.

A much stronger field in the second heat fired up last year's European indoor gold medallist, Marek Plawgo who won for Poland in 46.76 secs.

In the women's 800m, Jo Fenn looked set for a surprise win until the final 150m when she lost out to Spain's Mayte Martinez.

But there was disappointment for Commonwealth gold medallist Michael East in the 1500m as he finished back in fourth.

Britain's women claimed a surprise third place in the overall team competition while France took top honours.

In the men's competition Spain were the winners whilst the British men uncharacteristically finished second from last.