Great Britain's women's 4x200metres freestyle squad put their nightmare of Beijing behind them by taking bronze in a new European record time at swimming's World Championships last night.

Jazmin Carlin, Caitlin McClatchey, Rebecca Adlington and Jo Jackson lowered the record they set in the morning by more than three and a half seconds as they touched in 7min 45.51sec in Rome, finishing behind China - who set yet another new world record - and the United States.

It erased the heartache of the 2008 Olympics when a below-strength squad failed to make it through the heats despite being one of the favourites for the title.

Jackson swam the quickest leg in 1min 55.98sec and said: "Last year was a massive upset for us all and this year we came and just swam really well.

"We knew it would be tough out there, there were a lot of good teams.But I thought we did a great performance, a great team effort."

Adlington brought the team home to earn her second bronze of the meet and said: "All of us gave 110 per cent."

In the men's 200m individual medley, Britain's James Goodard finished sixth and said: "I'm disappointed but to make the final is still a good achievement considering my recent shoulder injury."