Swimming: Roebuck feeds off winner's support to take 200m bronze

The 25-year-old has constantly stated that his priority for 2010 remains the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October.

But after a battling display, which included a gruelling final 50m, Roebuck held off the challenge of Israel's Gal Nevo to claim the bronze medal in 1:59.46mins.

Hungary's Laszlo Cseh took the gold in a championship record 1:57.73 with Austria's Markus Rogan second.

Roebuck said: "I'm just delighted. It is my first medal on the major stage.

"It was going to be very hard to beat Laszlo in Hungary because the crowd was going crazy for him – I just tried to pretend it was me.

"It was a brilliant atmosphere to race in and I'm just looking forward to London 2012 now when the crowd is doing that for us."

Southport's Fran Halsall claimed Great Britain's third gold medal of the championships when she won the 100m freestyle. The 20-year-old led from start to finish to take the title in 53.58secs ahead of Aliaksandra Herasimenia, of Belarus, and Holland's Femke Heerskeerk.

Halsall's victory was especially impressive given she had not rested for the meet and was up against rivals who were in peak condition, with the British swimmers focusing on the Commonwealth Games in October.

She was second at last year's World Championships and in the absence of Britta Steffen, winner in Rome, and world-ranked No 1 Ranomi Kromowidjojo through illness, Halsall was one of the favourites and duly delivered.

Beverley's Lizzie Simmonds, winner of the 200m backstroke, qualified fastest for the 100m backstroke final.

Despite Tuesday's exertions, Simmonds still had enough to cruise through her semi-final touching home in 1:00.52 – 0.21 seconds ahead of team-mate Gemma Spofforth, of Portsmouth, who won silver behind her in the 200m.

The nation's leading energy supplier British Gas is the Principal Partner of British Swimming, and have pledged 15m to support the sport at all levels – from paddling pool to podium. For more information visit www.britishgas.co.uk/swimming.