Sarah Claxton was left ruing a poor start as she saw her hopes of a medal at the European Indoor Athletics Championships disappear in Turin.

The Colchester star had equalled her own British record of 7.96 seconds on her way to qualifying as the fastest runner for the last eight of women’s 60 metre hurdles, but it all went wrong once the final got under way.

She made a good start in the final, but the athletes were called back because of a false start by a fellow competitor.

When the gun went for a second time, Claxton couldn’t repeat the form she had shown earlier and clipping hurdles as she battled to force her way back into the race meant she was left way back down the field as Eline Berings of Belgium collected the gold medal in 7.92 seconds.

Had Claxton matched her semi-final British record time, she would have been assured of at least a bronze medal, however, instead she eased off as the race ended and finished in a disappointing 8.21 seconds.

“I just didn’t react after the false start,” said the 29-year-old.

“It wasn’t the situation that got to me as I felt fine coming out and in the warm-up, but I just didn’t react.

“I know I would have run quicker in the final than I did before, but I didn’t get out of the blocks.

“Once you do that and then clip hurdles over 60 metres that is it and I had stopped running by the end.”