Karalis romped to victory with a clearence of 5.45 metres before pushing the bar up to what would have been a record height of 5.56, one centimetres more than the record he has held himself since May.

He narrowly missed out, but will hope to break the record once again at the European Junior Championships.

Bo Kanda Lita Baerhe claimed German silver with 5.30m, while Sondre Guttormsen of Norway took a distant bronze with 5.05m.

Holly Mills opened the British account with long jump gold on countback after both she and silver medallist Maja Bedrac managed a best leap of 5.19m.

Her non-related namesake George then claimed 800m spoils, after running a superb personal best of 1:48.82.

He beat an Italian duo in Andrea Romani, who clocked 1:49.58, and Simone Barontini, who managed 1:49.78.

Mills is the son of former footballer Danny, a member of the England team which reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup.

Britain won five gold medals, one more than Germany, who won gold today courtesy of Manuel Wagner, winner of the decathlon with 7.382 points.

France claimed women's medley relay honours, while Italy took the corresponding men's event.

Other winners today included another Frenchman in triple jumper Martin Lamou.

He won with a personal best of 16.03.