Britain’s big new race walking star, Tom Bosworth, smashed the world mile record at the Müller Anniversary Games in London on Sunday.

Further impressing as he works towards the 20km event at the IAAF World Championships next month, the 27-year-old from Tonbridge clocked 5:31.08 to improve the global race walk mark.

World junior champion Callum Wilkinson had led through 400m in 82.45 to be bang on schedule. Bosworth took over on the second lap and reached 800m in 2:45.72 before he began to ease away.

On the third lap, Bosworth picked it up further with a 81.54 lap but did get two warnings and it looked like he eased back on the last lap to ensure he didn’t get disqualified.

Despite slowing, he still smashed the record and had time to acknowledge the crowd before he crossed the line, celebrating wildly.

After the race, Bosworth said: “That record is 26 years old and I was so nervous. Not many can run a mile in 5:31 so I am pleased to walk that quickly. I knew my speed was good but I think I have upped my level this year.”

It was deemed the performance of the meeting and earned Bosworth a world record bonus of $15,000.

With the judges busy on the later laps, it was Diego Garcia (5:36.27) who was given second place.

Erick Barrondo and Wilkinson (5:36.31) were both disqualified but would have set big PBs had they not broken the rules.

Dominic King did set a PB of 5:56.80 in fifth to show good speed for a 50km walker.

In the 400m hurdles, it looked like world-leader Kyron McMaster was going to run in the low 47s as he entered the straight with a big lead but he stumbled off the eighth hurdle and lost all rhythm for the final hurdle.

It was Olympic champion Kerron Clement who finished the strongest and came past just before the line to win in a season’s best 48.02 to McMaster’s 48.12.

Kent’s Jack Green set a season’s best of 48.77 in sixth while Jacob Paul set a PB 49.49 in eighth.