Bradford swimmer Janine Belton, pictured, was celebrating today with the rest of Britain's women's team after their historic World Championships gold medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay was confirmed in Japan after a controversial disqualification row.

A Jury of Appeal, set up after yesterday's race in Fukuoka ended in chaos and confusion, ratified the original decision to disqualify Australia and the United States.

The gold is the first won by the women in the 28-year history of the championships and the first by the team since David Wilkie's double breaststroke gold in Colombia in 1975.

Berlton, now studying at Loughborough University, linked up with Nicola Jackson, Karen Legg and Karen Pickering to smash the British record by over four seconds to finish third in the race in 7:58.69.

But they were promoted to silver when 'winners' Australia were disqualified after jumping into the water to celebrate the victory before every other team had finished.

Britain were then installed as gold medallists when the Americans were disqualified for an illegal change over, but they appealed, claiming video evidence showed the change-over was legal and that the timing touch-pad must have been wrong.

City of Bradford swimming development officer and head coach, Max Stewart said: "It is a tremendous achievement not only for Janine but for Bradford development scheme.

"Janine started with the development group when she was 12 and has progressed through our development programme.

"It is absolutely fabulous and just shows what Bradford can provide as a basis for a swimming career.

"It is a great honour for her. She has shown great tenacity in being determined to win this gold medal and produce her lifetime best."

Janine, 21, recent passed her degree in sports science at Loughborough Unversity.