Tomlinson finally ends his long wait as GB finish with flourish

Rooney had plenty to make up on the final leg and was in fifth place after individual silver medallist Michael Bingham ran a sub-standard second leg.

But Rooney, the individual bronze medallist, chased down Russia's Vladimir Krasnov, only to just run out of track as the British quartet – just as they did at the World Championships last year – had to settle for silver.

The women's foursome meanwhile, saw Shakes-Drayton put in a storming last lap but she could not catch Germany for silver as Great Britain completed the podium with bronze.

Meanwhile, Chris Tomlinson finally captured his first major outdoor championship medal – at the 11th attempt – clinching bronze with a best effort of 8.23m, missing out on silver by just a centimetre.

There was disappointment for Great Britain as the curtain came down in Barcelona as Lisa Dobriskey, the world silver medallist, could only manage fourth place as she faded in the final stages.

But Great Britain finished the championships with 19 medals – one more than their previous biggest medal haul in 1990 in Split, leaving UKA head coach Charles van Commenee a satisfied man.

"Overall it has been very encouraging for the next two years," said van Commenee. "It's impossible to single out any of the individuals but I have admiration and appreciation for a lot of the athletes."

Conrad Williams produced a solid start but the problems began when Bingham's legs still seemed heavy after his individual silver medal exertions and while Rob Tobin gave Rooney a fighting chance, the gap proved too big to bridge.

"I was hoping to take advantage of the quick track and I asked the guys to put me on the shoulder of the leaders," said Rooney – who claimed individual 400m bronze behind Bingham.

"I wanted to get that pesky Russian and bring him down to size but unfortunately it was not to be."

Meanwhile, the female quartet of Nicola Sanders, Marilyn Okoro, Lee McConnell and Shakes-Drayton clinched bronze as Russia continued their 400m dominance to take gold.

"I'm delighted that I got my individual medal and that all of the girls got a medal as well," said Shakes-Drayton, who also took bronze in the 400m hurdles.

McConnell, who disappointed in the individual 400m failing to progress past the heats, added: "It was great. We've had our problems this year but it's great to put that behind us and leave here with a medal."

Tomlinson's jump of 8.23m in the fourth round looked good enough to secure second place behind Germany's Christian Reif (8.47m), before France's Kafetien Gomis followed four straight fouls with a leap of 8.24m on his last attempt.

The 28-year-old from Middlesbrough had one last chance to reclaim silver but could only manage 7.57m with his final attempt.

"It was all right out there, I jumped probably some of the best jumps of my life but unfortunately the big massive jump never came," said Tomlinson, who went over eight metres four times in six attempts.

"I guess I still see myself as a work in progress and I'm sure I've got something to build on there. I've probably got to look at that and say that's the best jumping I've ever produced."

Dobriskey, also fourth in the Beijing Olympics but a silver medallist at the World Championships last year, was perfectly positioned at the bell as she moved onto the shoulder of long-time leader Anna Alminova.

But the 26-year-old from Kent was never able to get her nose in front and eventually lost out in the sprint finish down the home straight, which was won by Spain's Nuria Fernandez in a personal best of four minutes 00.20 seconds.

France's Hind Dehiba was second and another Spaniard, Natalia Rodriguez, third, with Britain's Steph Twell and Hannah England seventh and 10th respectively.

Dehiba is just back from a two-year ban after testing positive for the blood-boosting drug erythropoietin (EPO). She and her husband and coach, Fodil Dehiba, were arrested at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris in 2007 after vials containing human growth hormone were found in their luggage.

A tearful Dobriskey said: "I went in with the attitude today that it was gold or nothing. I just raced a little bit more aggressively and made my move a little bit early and consequently I wasn't as strong as I would usually be in the final straight.

Asked about Dehiba, the 2006 Commonwealth champion added: "It's a bit disappointing obviously but I can only hope the doping system is fair and just and they are doing the best they can. Hopefully it was a clean race tonight."