The relay victory took Britain ahead of Poland in the table

Mark Lewis-Francis made amends for his disqualification in the 100m, bringing home the men's 4 x 100m relay team in 38.67 seconds to put Britain ahead.

There were also first places for track stars Chris Rawlinson, Tim Benjamin and John Mayock and field competitors Chris Tomlinson and Carl Myerscough.

But Britain's women face the threat of relegation after finishing last.

There was further bad news when it emerged Ashia Hansen will miss the Olympics after seriously injuring her knee in the triple jump competition.

Hansen out of the Olympics

Things had not started well when Lewis-Francis, favourite for the sprint crown, was thrown out for two false starts - costing Britain an almost certain eight points.

Rawlinson got Britain back on track, winning the 400m hurdles in a year's best 48.59 seconds.

"After last year I changed my mental attitude to the inside lane," said the 32-year-old.

"Now I can do well wherever I'm put."

Most of the British team are laughing at me because I'm one of the oldest members of the squad - and I've won John Mayock 5,000m winner

Benjamin also hit form as he produced a storming finish in the 400m to push former world champion Ingo Schultz into second place.

The Welsh runner took top spot in a season's best time of 45.37 seconds.

Tomlinson landed a lifetime's best of 8.28m to clinch the long jump in the third round.

But the 22-year-old's effort will not count because it was wind-assisted which means the Briton is still short of the Olympic qualifying standard.

"I've got a good chance of getting a medal in Athens but I'm not there yet," said Tomlinson.

"It was quite difficult with the wind. It was a matter of getting your run-up correct."

Salim Sdiri of France was second in 8.24m and Vitaliy Shkurlatov of Russia was third in 8.13m.

Myerscough, threw 20.85m at his final attempt, to take the shot put title.

Back on the track, Maycock showed glimpses of his best form to take the 5,000m title.

The 33-year-old timed his sprint to perfection and claimed victory in 14 minutes, 44.71 seconds ahead of Russia's Sergei Ivanov.

"I came here to win even though my season has been up and down a little bit," said the Barnsley-born athlete.

"The wind picked up and the rain came down so it was just like being back in Yorkshire.

"Most of the British team are laughing at me because I'm one of the oldest members of the squad - and I've won."

Maycock's win saw him become the first British distance runner to win a European Cup title for 11 years.