It should have been the sixth, but after Dwain Chambers revealed he was using drugs when captaining the side to the title six years ago also at the French venue, his performances were annulled and the side relegated to fourth.

Idowu recognised great responsibility rested on his shoulders as he was expected to be the first winner on the second day's action after the team had led overnight by three points.

The world indoor record holder duly delivered and further individual victories from Marlon Devonish and Andy Baddeley meant the Bruno Zauli trophy was again in British hands for the first time since their 2000 victory in Gateshead.

"I secured eight points, that was my goal and the reason why I came to this competition," said Idowu. "So it was the most important."

Idowu quickly flew ahead of his rivals when flying out to a distance of 17.29 metres before reverting to his normal colourful and smiling self.

Brit supporters then roared with approval as he posted a world class and winning leap of 17.46m in the third round which only himself and three opponents have bettered this summer.

Idowu rounded off his programme with a final effort of 17.13m. That distance had only been bettered by French runner-up Colomba Fofana's first-round leader of 17.21m, Italy's Fabrizio Schembri finishing third with 17.01m.

The women, after struggling in the early stages of day two through lack of top-class field event performers, turned up the heat in the closing events to take third place behind Russia, winners for a 12th successive time and Ukraine.

No one matched the 400m and 800m victories of Nicola Sanders and Jenny Meadows on the opening day, but Christine Ohuruogu, Kate Reed and Jade Johnson with their second places, provided a solid platform for the podium finish.

Ohuruogu, the world 400m champion, powered through in the last 10m to finish behind France's defending champion Muriel Hurtis-Houairi by 0.48sec in 23.23sec.

Peter Smith (Kingston upon Hull) won the English under-20 Hammer title on the first day of the National chmpionships at Bedford on Saturday.

His winning effort of 71.05 beat the qualifying mark for the World Junior Championships and the Hull athlete had other throws of 70.68 and 70.95 in a superb series.

There was a track win for Leeds City's James Wilkinson in the under-20 3000m steeplechase. His time of 9:12.21 gave him a six-second wining margin and was a new personal best for the Leeds athlete.

Another middle distance win came from Abridisak Ahmed (Rotherham) in the under-20 5000min a time of 14:46.92.

In the field, Luke Cutts (Dearnside) was an easy winner of the under 23 pole vault.

Coming in at 5.10m, when the other competitors had gone out of the competition, Cutts cleared that height but there was little incentive to go higher.

Rotherham's Kelly Pagdin, currently in superb form, won the under-20 women's javelin.

In the lead from the first round with her opening throw of 43.35m, the Rotherham athlete sealed her victory with 44.98 on her final effort.

On the second day, Sheffield's Rebecca Mersh won the 5K walk in 27:33.43 with her team mate Kathryn Granger taking bronze in 28:50.79.

Barnsley's Adelle Lassu, who competes for Sale, won the under-20 women's high jump with a leap of 1.74m.