Tweddle top scores at European Championships

BETH Tweddle got her double medal bid off to a flying start at the European Championships in Milan.

STRONG START: Beth Tweddle - who missed out on a medal in Beijing - looked impressive on the opening day of the European Championships (Getty Images)

The former world champion qualified for the final of the floor and asymmetric bars in first place - while her score of 15.275 on the bars was the highest of the day.

Russia's Ksenia Semyonova was the top overall qualifier, banking 57.625 points with scores ranging from 14.325 on vault to 14.475 on balance beam.

But Tweddle - who finished just outside the medals at last year's Olympic and is only competing in two events in Italy - fancies her chances.

''Two medals here in Milan is certainly very possible, I would like them both to be gold," she said.

British Olympic team-mate Becky Downie also impressed, qualifying for the all-round, vault and bars finals, while 16-year old Hannah Whelan will join Downie in competing for all-round honours.

''I came here for experience, I am really happy that I hit my routines," said Whelan.

Olympic bronze medallist Louis Smith starts his medal bid in Friday's men's qualifying.

Smith's pommel horse success last summer made him the first British gymnast to win an Olympic medal since 1928.

He'll be joined in qualifying by British team-mates Daniel Keatings, Kristian Thomas, Luke Folwell, Daniel Purvis and Theo Seager.