Jackson won 400m freestyle Olympic bronze in Beijing last summer

Britain's Jo Jackson broke the 400m freestyle world record at the short-course British Gas Grand Prix in Leeds.

She led from the start to win in three minutes 54.92 seconds, 1.17secs inside Laure Manaudou's previous mark.

Afterwards, Jackson said: "The world record has been there for a while, so it was set in my mind.

"I pulled out of all my (other) swims here. My coach let me do that and he said if you do the 400m, give it a good go, it's your last swim of the season."

Jackson, who won a silver and two bronzes at the recent World Championships in Rome, added: "I can relax a bit and chill out with my family and friends and then get back into training in September and get ready for next year."

She is the former long-course world record holder before the mark she set in March was reclaimed by Federica Pellegrini in Italy.

Earlier, both she and fellow GB star Liam Tancock said they were looking forward to the return of low-tech swimwear in 2010.

Swimming's world governing body Fina has outlawed performance-enhancing bodysuits from 1 January after their use saw scores of world records tumble.

Tancock swam to 50m backstroke gold in 24.04 seconds

Tancock, 24, said: "I think it will be fantastic, I think it will be great to go back to the textile suits."

Jackson, who has been wearing an adidas Hydrofoil suit, agreed, saying: "Next year the suits will go, and it will go back to being about the swimmers."

More than 180 world records having fallen since the introduction of the Speedo LZR suit in February 2008 which was followed by other brands.

Tancock set a new world 50m backstroke mark at the recent World Championships in Rome - one of 43 records that fell over eight days of competition.

The event was dominated by the performance-enhancing suits, but Fina has confirmed a return to textile suits next year.

Exeter's Tancock said "99% of swimmers" backed the decision to turn the clock back.

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Jackson, 22, claimed the focus on the suits had devalued people's performances in the pool.

"It was really frustrating because it was all about the suit, not the swimmers. I think people were forgetting we are putting in five or six hours in the pool every day, training so hard.

"The suits are great and all that but you still have to get in and train hard."

"Hopefully the public will realise it's down to the swimmers."

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