Couch and Barrow crowned European Champions

The British pair, who won bronze at the FINA Visa World Cup, finished the prelims in first place and continued their form into the final.

It was our personal best score but even then we think we can go better.

They scored an impressive 106.20 after the required dives and entered the optional rounds with confidence.

They scored an impressive 69.12 for their Inward 3 ½ Somersaults tucked to put themselves in contention for gold.

They finished with 319.56 to take their first European title and become Britain's first female European champions since 1938.

"We've done a few records now," Couch said. "It is really exciting. Tonight our aim was to win the gold and we dived really well.

"It is just really exciting. It is an amazing feeling. it's a pretty medal too. It was our personal best score, which makes it even better, but even then we think we can go better."

Barrow added: "We hope to be in London, we've been doing well, but we've got trials in two weeks time so it is not long to wait now.

"We're in good shape physically and the results are showing. It's amazing to break that 74-year record as well. We just have to keep working hard."

Earlier Jack Laugher and Chris Mears were in action in the final of the men’s 3m Springboard and they finished in sixth and eighth place respectively.

It was probably the highest scoring final I've seen at Europeans but 475 is a really good score.

Laugher had an unusually shaky prelim which saw him drop his Back 2 ½ Somersaults piked for a score of 15 but the British Champion picked himself up to secure his final place.

The City of Leeds diver enjoyed a more consistent start to his final and finished in sixth place with his highest international total of 475.75.

"It was probably the highest scoring final I've ever seen at Europeans," said Laugher. "It was kind of crazy. There was a lot of 9 and 9.5s going around. But for me it was a PB. My reverse 3 1/2 was a lot better in the prelims but I don't really care - 475 is a really good score.

"To be honest coming back from hitting my foot and getting a good score and qualifying is almost better than what I did in the final. I just caught my heel on the board as I stretched out. It was a bit of a disaster. But I got back in and calculated that if I averaged 80 in my last three dives I could get 390 which was enough to get me through.

"It's all about getting experience. I don't mind too much that I didn't get a medal because it's all about the future. Learning in competitions like this is amazing for me."

Mears also put in a consistent performance but dropped marks on his Front 4 ½ Somersaults tucked to finish with a total of 417.45.