Holly Bleasdale continued her impressive form with victory in the pole vault in 4.71m in the Sainsbury’s Indoor Grand Prix at Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena.

The Blackburn Harrier celebrated a third consecutive jump over 4.70m, suggesting she is finding the consistency to go with her talent ahead of next month's World Indoor Championship in Poland.

“That was my third consecutive jump over 4.70m and if you’d told me this time last year that I’d be in this position I’d have been really happy,” said Bleasdale.

“It wasn’t a great day today. I felt a bit rusty and things were a little bit stiff but if I can jump 4.71m on a bad day then I know the 4.80s and 4.90s will come.

“I love it here, this is my favourite place in the world to compete.

“The crowd are amazing. They get behind me and cheer and that gives me a bit of an edge.

“That’s what helped me win today so I was really happy with it.”

British indoor champion James Dasaolu won the men's 60m despite suffering an injury during the race.

The 26-year-old Londoner posted the quickest time of the year in the heats, clocking 6.47 seconds, but his 6.50-second victory in the final was marred by an injury sustained in the final 10m.

Dasaolu, a medal hope for next month's World Indoor Championships, later said he suspected it was cramp after initially fearing a hamstring problem.

His fitness will be assessed this week.

Olympic champion Greg Rutherford, who ruptured a hamstring in 2013 and failed to qualify for the World Championships final in Moscow, came third in his first indoor long jump competition in four years.

His best of 8.00m was not enough to beat world champion Aleksandr Menkov (8.14m).

Olympic bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz (2.27m) could only finish third behind winner Erik Kynard (2.34m) in the men’s long jump.