Farah, who announced before competing that he will be moving to the United States to prepare for next year's London Olympics, set a European indoor 5,000 metres record of 13min 10.60sec, while the world triple jump champion Idowu marked his first competition of the year by leaping to 17.57 metres on his last jump to beat former Olympic and world champion Christian Olsson.

Jenny Meadows was another impressive victor in the 800m, clocking 1:59.22.

But, ahead of next month's European Indoor Championships in Paris, there were problems for other British athleltes as sprinters Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Mark Lewis-Francis suffered injuries, as well as pole vaulter Steve Lewis.

A day after announcing he was parting company with coach Alan Storey and heading for Portland, Oregon to work under the supervision of Alberto Salazar, Farah shrugged off the challenge of US runner Galen Rupp - who will soon be a training partner - in a run which also saw him eclipse the British indoor 3,000m

"The aim was to come here and run good and get ready for the Euro indoors which is not too far away, so I'm delighted with that," Farah said.

Idowu, who has chosen not to go to Paris, said: "My mind was clear. I'm happy with it and I just wanted to come here and test out my technique."

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