The quintet of Kseniia Afanaseva, Angelina Melnikova, Aliya Mustafina, Seda Tutkhalian and Daria Spiridonova combined to post a winning score of 175.212 points, finishing 4.9 clear of the field.

Ruby Harrold, Gabby Jupp, Claudia Fragapane and the Downie sisters, Ellie and Becky, all contributed to a total of 170.312 points to match Britain’s silver medal from 2014.

"It’s amazing to win the silver medal but there’s also mixed emotions as we know we could have performed even better," said Becky Downie.

"Coming in to the final we were dreaming of the gold but a few mistakes cost us today and that’s something we will learn from.

"Every girl tried there hardest and put everything in to it so there are no regrets.

"The fact there are those mixed emotions show how far we have come - when we won silver in 2014 we were all amazed and delighted.

"It just shows how much we’ve grown as a team and how much our ambitions have developed."

France’s Marine Boyer, Marine Brevet, Loan His, Oreane Lechenault and Alison Lepin rounded out the top three with 168.496 points.

Switzerland, who qualified third for the final behind Britain and Russia, had to settle for fourth place with 165.721 points.

Italy, Romania, Germany and Hungary completed the top eight in that order. 

Action in Bern is due to conclude tomorrow with the apparatus finals for juniors and seniors.