All-around world silver medallist Daniel Keatings and Olympic pommel bronze medallist Louis Smith brought all their experience to bear for a team that was completed by Kristian Thomas, Sam Hunter and Daniel Purvis.

Britain finished with 263.025 points at the National Indoor Arena, with Germany scoring 266.150 and France taking bronze with260.100.

Coach Paul Hall commented: "Germany were fantastic, but it’s a wonderful  result for us.

"We held it together on the day, there were a few lumps and  jumps but to come second in a senior European Championships is something we’d never have dreamed of two years ago.

"I have to pay tribute to several people including Andre Popov, our other team coach.

"It’s a  wonderful feeling, a great step forward and great preparation for 2012."

Hunter added: "It’s awesome, one of the best days of my life.

"I was told today just to enjoy it  and it’s quite hard to do that  I’ve learnt how to control the nerves and it paid off in the end.

"We did have some mistakes today but we just had to put them behind us, we weren’t the only team making mistakes."

Earlier, Oldham and Whitlock (picutred) had lived up to their top rankings, Oldham taking gold comfortably with a score of 84.575 and Whitlock securing silver with 84.275 ahead of Switzerland's Pablo Braegger,  who scored 83.150.

"The pressure was on and I was just trying to go clean," Oldham said.

"I didn’t really focus on the scores."

On hearing that the BBC  had tipped him to be ‘a star of the future’, Oldham commented: "Hopefully that’ll happen!

"We’ll just take it step by step.

"First team and first and second in all-around is just an awesome achievement for GB."

Tomorrow sees the apparatus finals for both the junior and senior men with Britain looking for more medals.

The expected highlight will be the contest for the senior pommel horse title with Smith and Keatings topping the qualification standings.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
April 2010: Britain's men make final of European Championships
April 2010: Daniel Keatings - Looking forward to making my mark in Birmingham
April 2010: Britain’s juniors strike European gold and strengthen hopes for London
April 2010: "Dunkirk spirit" sees arrivals by sea and land for European Championships
April 2010: Birmingham’s European Gymnastics Championships delayed by volcanic activity