Great Britain's lightweight four held off Italy to take gold

Great Britain won two golds and three more bronzes on their most successful day ever at the World Rowing Championships in Munich.

The women's quad sculls led the field from the start to win their third consecutive world title.

The men's lightweight four took gold for the first time, while Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter clinched a bronze in the lightweight double sculls.

There were also unexpected bronzes for both the men's and the women's eights.

Interview: GB women's quad sculls team

GB performance director David Tanner described the results as "totally exceptional".

He added: "Seven medals from Olympic class boats is stunning.

606: DEBATE The results show an increase in strength in depth on last year's championships Martin Gough - BBC Sport

"This has been a massive step up for our men's lightweight rowers and an emphatic return to form for the women's quadruple scull."

The women's quadruple scull of Katherine Grainger, Fran Houghton, Debbie Flood and Annie Vernon held off the fast-finishing Germans in the last 250m to take gold.

"For each of us that was something really special," said Grainger.

"In the last few days we've got closer to that special rhythm that you get when everything is really flowing naturally."

In the lightweight men's four, British quartet Richard Chambers, James Lindsay-Fynn, Paul Mattick and James Clarke pulled past Italy in the final stages to win.

"The other crews went out very quickly in the first 1,000m but we kept steady and came back at them in the second half," said Clarke.

"Going to the line it's always easier to defend your position and we were just trying to hold on to that prize."