Double relay success for Britain Full athletics results

The 23-year-old British number one had produced back-to-back personal bests of 20.77 seconds and 20.73 in qualifying.

But he went one better in the final, running 20.69 to finish second behind favourite Germany's Unger Tobias, who also produced a PB to win in 20.53.

Poland's Marcin Urbas took the bronze in 21.04 but Briton Tim Abeyie was forced to withdraw because of injury.

A delighted Lambert says he now aims to build on his silver success in the outdoor arena.

"I'm very happy with my first major medal, very happy - it's a great end to my indoor season," the Harvard politics graduate, said.

"But it is still just a progress check and I think it shows that there will be so much more to come in the summer."

Felllow Briton Tim Abeyie had exceeded expectations to make the final along with Lambert, but was forced to withdraw because of injury.

Earlier on Sunday, Jo Pavey's dream of winning her first track title ended when she dropped out of her 3,000m final.

The Olympic 5,000m finalist came into the championships with a calf injury and after gallantly setting the pace, called it a day with 250m to go.

Allahgreen missed out in her final

Poland's Lidia Chojecka won in eight minutes 43.76 seconds, with second-placed Tezeta Desalegn-Dengersa setting a Turkish record of 8:46.65.

Pavey said: "It is very, very disappointing. I've been targeting this championship since last summer. I saw it as a great opportunity for myself.

"But I wasn't able to test myself in training. I made the decision to run, I thought I might be alright. But sometimes it is a tough one to call."

James McIlroy also suffered disappointment when he just missed out on a medal in the men's 800m.

The Northern Ireland athlete clocked 1:49.33 to finish fourth in a race won by Russian Dmitriy Bogdanov in 1:48.61

Diane Allahgreen was left alone to fly the Great Britain flag in the women's 60m hurdles final after medal prospect Sarah Claxton went out at the semi-final stage.

But the Briton did not produce her best in the final and came home last in a slow time of 8.15.

British duo Allan Scott and Damien Greaves also went out in the men's semi-finals.

But Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva thrilled the Madrid crowd when for the fourth successive week she set an indoor world record - this time clearing 4.90m, adding a centimetre to the height she jumped in Lievin on 25 February.

It was the 22-year-old Russian's 13th record - indoor or outdoor - since posting her first at Gateshead in July 2003.

Isinbayeva had already won the gold medal ahead of the Polish pair Anna Rogowska, who equalled her national record of 4.75m, and Monika Pyrek, who matched her PB of 4.70m.