ADAM Hickey helped Great Britain’s senior men’s team to a bronze medal at the European Cross-Country Championships.

The 27-year-old Southend AC athlete admitted it had been a tough experience on a fast, flat course in Hyeres, France, but the medal made it all worthwhile.

Hickey was inside the top 20 going into the final few kilometres of the 10.1km course before fading away and eventually finishing in 42nd place, the fifth British athlete home.

Tom Lancashire was the first British athlete in 15th place as the team packed strongly to finish in third place behind winners Spain and host nation France.

Hickey said afterwards: “A very very tough day in the office today, body is in absolute pieces but it just about held on to the finish line and a team bronze eases the pain...slightly!”

It was a fantastic day of racing for the Great Britain team in the south of France with every one of their athletes from six teams (under-20 up to seniors) winning medals.

Neil Black, the British Athletics Performance director said: It’s pleasing to see every member of the team win a medal and finish top of the medal table for the 13th consecutive year.”