SCOTS Stephen Milne and Duncan Scott, along with England’s Nick Grainger and James Guy, claimed Great Britain’s fourth gold of the World Championships in Budapest with a fabulous victory in the men’s 4x200 metres freestyle relay.

Scottish breaststroker Ross Murdoch finished fourth in the 200m on day six before the relay team delivered. Anton Chupkov of Russia improved his championship and European record to take 200m breaststroke gold in 2:06.96.

Yasuhiro Koseki of Japan was second in 2:07.29 and his compatriot Ippei Watanabe, the world record holder, was third in 2:07.47. Murdoch clocked 2:08.12.

The 23-year-old Stirling swimmer won Commonwealth Games gold in 2014 and the European title in May 2016, but recorded his fastest time in almost three years in the semi-finals on Thursday night.

In the relay, Milne and Grainger gave Britain a fast start and Scott put Britain into podium contention before Guy, on the anchor leg, surged to victory.

Britain finished in seven minutes 01.70 seconds, with Russia’s Mikhail Dovgalyuk, Mikhail Vekovishchev, Danila Izotov and Aleksandr Krasnykh 0.98secs behind in second.

Blake Pieroni, Townley Haas, Jack Conger and Zane Grothe of the United States took bronze, 1.48secs adrift. Britain were defending champions in the relay, having won the title in Kazan two years ago, and took Olympic silver behind the USA at Rio 2016.

A key member of Britain’s  medal-winning quartet from those two championships was absent as Dan Wallace was suspended for a drink-driving conviction  Guy, who qualified for Saturday’s 100m butterfly final earlier in the session, replaced Calum Jarvis following the morning heat swim, when Britain qualified second behind Australia.

The 21-year-old’s inclusion was decisive. Guy was the only swimmer in the event who clocked under 1:44 for their four lengths, with his anchor leg split at 1:43.80