TOM Lancashire aims to put the icing on an impressive season at the Commonwealth Games.

Britain’s number one ranked 1500m star begins his Delhi campaign for England today in the heats, hoping for a comfortable passage into tomorrow’s final.

After a disappointing European Championships performance in the summer, the Bolton 25-year-old is determined to finish the season on a championship high.

Lancashire, pictured, bounced back in style from his European setback, producing a string of fast times and strong performances against the best 1500m runners in the world in Diamond League meetings across Europe.

The highlight came in Brussells in the star-studded final Diamond League meeting of the season when he produced the best performance of his life, dipping under 3mins 34secs for the first time.

“That run gave me confidence that I can go on and keep improving,”

said Lancashire who moved up the all-time British rankings from 16th to 12th with his personal best performance.

“I am already looking forward to next season because I believe I can take it on and get my times down a lot more.

I want to put in a good performance in the C o m m o n w e a l t h Games because I don’t think I did myself justice in the European Championships.

“This will be a different challenge from the Europeans, but just how d i f f e r - ent I don’ t know.

“The Kenyans will be very strong, and maybe the races will be faster than at the Europeans, which would suit me.

“But I am confident I will be able to handle it whether the race is fast or slow.

“I want to get through the heat first and then try to go for a medal in the final.”

Also on the track today, Bolton’s Stuart Stokes will be looking to complete his remarkable comeback to international competition in the 3,000m steeplechase.

The event is being held as a straight final, without heats, and Stokes is ranked around ninth or tenth on his form this season.

The 33-year-old returned to racing this season after retiring two years ago when he became disillusioned with the sport after failing to make the Great Britain Olympic team.

The former long-time British number one is back in England colours today for his third consecutive Commonwealth Games, having finished fourth in Manchester in 2002 and fifth in Melbourne four years ago.