Belfast's Paul McKee was eventually presented with his bronze medal

Paul McKee clinched a bronze medal in a dramatic 400 metres final at the World Indoor Athletics Championships.

The Belfast schoolteacher went through a rollercoaster of emotions, having at one stage been told by IAAF officials that he had missed out on a medal.

McKee broke the Irish record for the second successive day as he battled with Jamie Baulch for third place.

He followed up Saturday's superb semi-final time of 46.24 by clocking 45.99 in the final, the same as Baulch.

Two bronze medals were originally awarded, McKee's the first ever won by Ireland in the world indoors at a distance below 1500 metres.

Jamie Baulch and Paul McKee tied for third place

But then the Belfast athlete had the heartbreak of being told he had been relegated to fourth and only Welsh star Baulch was on the podium when the medals were presented.

However, after an appeal by Ireland officials, McKee was awarded a joint bronze medal.

Tyree Washington of the USA beat home-town favourite Daniel Caines into silver with a winning time of 45.34secs.

Ireland's other finalist David McCarthy ran another personal best of 46.61 to take fifth place.

"It is unfortunate that I missed out on the medal ceremony," said McKee.

"But I am a world bronze medallist, they cannot take that away from me and I am going to celebrate St Patrick's Day in style.

"I was delighted with my time but it would have been so frustrating to have finished fourth, it is the worst possible place to finish in a final."