Hurtis got off to a poor start but powered round the bend to clock 22.43 secs, improving her season's best of 22.46secs that she set in the semi-final.

It was also the fastest time by a European this year, but Belgium's Kim Gevaert pushed her all the way to the line.

Gevaert took silver in 22.53, a new Belgian record, while Italy's Manuela Levorato won the bronze medal in a season's best of 22.75.

Hurtis and Gevaert had both won their semi-finals, and continued their form into a hard-fought final.

Britain's Shani Anderson, feeling the effects of her exertions at the Commonwealth Games, failed to reach the final after finishing last in the first semi-final.

In other action, Sabine Wagner gave the home crowd something to cheer with a fine win in the 100m amputee final.

The German finished in 14.14, ahead of compatriot Katrin Laborenz and Austria's Andrea Scherney.