Robertson and Wallwork see off world champions in Birmingham

FORMER world champion Nathan Robertson and partner Jenny Wallwork edged out world champions Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Juhl to reach the mixed doubles quarter finals at the Yonex All England Championships.

BIG WIN: Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork send the world champions crashing to reach the last eight of the mixed doubles in Birmingham (Alex Roache)

The English duo weathered a second game fight back from the Danish duo before powering through the deciding game to win 21-14, 16-21, 21-15.

Victory set up a last eight encounter with Indonesia's Olympic silver medallists Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir on Friday night and a potential semi-final meeting with England compatriots Anthony Clark and Heather Olver.

Clark and Olver face South Korea's Olympic champions Lee Yong Dae and Lee Hyon Jung in their last eight tie.

While the mixed doubles pairs battled on in Birmingham, the British challenge in the singles draws came to an end on Thursday.

British number one Rajiv Ouseph lost out in straight sets to China's 2008 champion Chen Jin while Andrew Smith crashed out to 2004 Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat for the second consecutive year.

In the women's singles, Scotland's Susan Egelstaff was the final British hope remaining but lost a thrilling last-16 match against China's sixth seed Lu Lan, eventually going down 25-23, 20-22, 21-17.