The Battle-based shooting star followed up last week's Olympic selection in the double trap discipline by being crowned European Champion.

He enthused: "I'm really ecstatic. The best part about it was being on top of the podium and seeing the British flag going up in the number one position."

The 23-year-old ironed out "a few little issues" in his technique during practice towards the end of last week and made the journey to Cyprus full of confidence.

That belief was clearly evident in his shooting as Scott produced a personal best international score at the Nicosia Olympic Shooting Range.

He was in second place at the end of the qualifying phase with the very good score of 143 out of 150, one fewer than Sweden's Hakan Dahlby.

Scott went on to hit 48 out of 50 in the six-man final, while Dahlby scored 47 to leave the pair tied for first place with an impressive overall total of 191 out of 200.

This meant they went into a shoot-off and it was Scott who clinched the gold medal after smashing his second successive clay to Dahlby's one.

"There was lots of pressure involved in it, but I managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat so to speak," continued Scott.

As well as being his first individual senior gold medal, victory in his last competitive outing before the Olympics will give Scott a big psychological boost going to Beijing.

Five of the top six, plus several others who missed out on a place in the final, are also in the Olympic line-up, while Dahlby came fifth in the 2004 Games in Athens.

On his Olympic prospects, Scott added: "At the moment, I feel like I stand a very high chance of medalling."

He will join around 800 competitors, support staff and VIPs at the NEC in Birmingham on Friday to pick up his Olympic kit which comprises nearly 100 items of clothing and accessories.

Scott, who was born in South East London and lived in Tonbridge and Yalding before moving to Battle some five years ago, wished to thank girlfriend Gemma Phelps, B&Q and sponsor Carmyke Leasing.

European Double Trap Championship result: 1 Steve Scott (GBR) 143+48=191+2, 2 Hakan Dahlby (SWE) 144+47=191, 3 Waldemer Schanz (GER) 139+49=188+2, 4 Mikhail Leybo (RUS) 139+49=188, 5 Daniele Di Spigno (ITA) 140+47=187, 6 William Chetcuti (MAL) 139+46=185.

An official reserve for the 2004 Olympics, Scott works at B&Q Bexhill and is part of the Team B&Q programme which allows him to train full-time.