Croydon Harrier Peter Chambers helped Great Britain’s junior team to fifth in the junior men’s race at the European cross-country championships in Bulgaria.

The 19- year-old made his international bow by completing the 6,085m course in 21 minutes seven seconds finishing 26th of the 105 entrants.

The UCL student was 40th at the halfway point but a strong second half of the race elevated him 14 places.

He was fourth Briton home of the six-man squad, sneaking into the scoring quartet in the team standings.

He said: "I struggled a bit - it started faster than I would have liked and it did feel as though a lot of people were going past me but I built into the race.

"I'm very proud to wear the GB & NI vest. It was good to work in a team of six and be part of that team atmosphere on the European level."