Tom Bosworth enjoyed a dream Diamond League debut in London on Sunday as he claimed a new World Record at London's Olympic Stadium.

The Tonbridge AC ace race-walking star - who is a five-time British champion and came sixth in the Rio Olympics last summer over 20km, took part in the Diamond League's first one-mile walk in London and left his competitors in his wake to record one of the most popular wins of the day.

The 27-year-old Sevenoaks-born star blazed to a superb time of 5minutes 31.08seconds to take six seconds off the previous best time in the rarely contested event, set some 26 years previously.

Bosworth - who is preparing for the 20km at the World Championships in London next month - said: "The aim was to set off at world record pace, but I didn’t think I was capable of getting it.

"With about 500m to go I thought ‘is the maths wrong, is that happening?’, so I had to focus on my technique and really get a grip of myself, but I’m absolutely delighted."

He added: "I wanted to make today special because it’s the first race walk at a Diamond League, and I’ve wanted it for so long.

"In athletics you’ve got to have characters and personality, and in an event like mine, which isn’t seen on TV too much and is quite often misunderstood a lot, I think (this) was a great advert for race walking.

"I’m so glad I managed to pull it off and deliver; I felt the nerves going out there beforehand – it was awful.

"All I want to do is promote our event, so hopefully (this) is a stepping stone – there are some incredible walkers coming through in Britain."

Bosworth held-off the challenge of Callum Wilkinson in a thrilling finish to claim his latest British title the previous week while Maidstone's up-and-coming Cam Corbishley has this week been forced to pull out of the European under-23 Championships due to injury.