The 20-year-old from France came through strongly in the closing stages to edge out Britain's Christian Malcolm by 0.01seconds, winning in 20.37secs.

Another Frenchman, Martial Mbandjock, claimed the bronze in 20.42.

Lemaitre, who won the 100m title following another trademark late surge on Wednesday (July 28), said: "It was a very tight race.

"My start was not as good as I expected.
 
"I had a lack of confidence in the middle of the race.
 
"I tried to do my best to pick up well during the last metres.

"Now I am so glad to be the winner.

"This is such an important day for French athletics."

Spain's Arturo Casado delighted the raucous home fans by taking 1500m gold in the final event of the day.

He won in 3min 42.72sec to take the title ahead of Germany's Carsten Schlangen with another Spaniard Manuel Olmedo taking bronze.

"I can't believe it yet. I'm the European champion - at home," said Casado.

"After so many fourth positions in previous championships it was about time.

"I am the happiest man in the world right now."

Britain's Andy Turner caused a surprise when he won the 110m hurdles.

The 29-year-old trailed favourite Petr Svoboda in the early stages.

But the Czech clattered into the seventh hurdle, allowing Turner to take full advantage.

He crossed the line in a season's-best time of 13.28, just 0.01 outside his lifetime best.

"It's a dream come true," said Turner, who won the bronze medal in the European Championships four years ago in Gothenburg.

"I had a dream of winning gold and I knew I was capable of doing it.

"Doing it when you need to is a different thing.

"I can't believe it.

"I knew if I had a clean race it was mine.

"I felt good in the semis. It feels really good."

Victory represents the pinnacle of a career that has suffered its fair share of disappointments.

Turner has gone into two Olympic Games and crashed out in the early stages on the back of injury woes.

The same fate befell him at the World Championships in Berlin last year.

Less than two years ago he was considering his future in the sport after having his National Lottery funding withdrawn.

UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee had decided the Sale Harrier did not have the ability to shine on the global stage.

But last year, after showing his mettle on the track, his funding was reinstated.

Now the faith has been rewarded.

There was a Russian one-two-three in the women's 400m as they took their medal total to 19, including eight golds, five of which they won tonight.

Tatyana Firova won in an European leading time of 49.89.

Kseniya Ustalova was second, also dipping below 50 seconds to finish in 49.92, with Antonina Krivoshapka taking bronze.

The men's 400m final did not go with the form book with Belgian Kevin Borlee (pictured centre) winning in 45.08.

His twin brother Jonathan, who leads the European rankings this year, could only mange seventh as British pair Michael Bingham and Martyn Rooney took silver and bronze.

With world pole vault record holder Yelena Isinbayeva not competing as she is taking a break from the sport, victory went to her fellow Russian Svetlana Feofanova with 4.75 metres, German pair Silke Spiegelburg and Lisa Ryzih were second and third.

Russia also tasted victory in the women's 800m and 400m hurdles, Natalya Antyukh breaking the championship record to win the latter in 52.92 with Bulgaria's Vania Stambolova taking silver and Briton Perri Shakes-Drayton bronze.

Mariya Savinova won the 800m in 1:58.22 ahead of Yvonne Hak of Holland and Briton Jenny Meadows.

Yuliya Zarudneva added to the country's gold tally in the women's 3000m steeplechase gold, with Spain's Marta Dominguez and a second Russian, Lyubov Kharlamova, second and third.

Elsewhere, Germany's Betty Heidler took the women's hammer title as Russia's Tatyana Lysenko and Anita Wlodarczyk took gold and silver and Yohann Dinz of France led home the Polish and Russian pair of Grzegorz Sudol and Sergey Baklin in the 50 kilometres walk.


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