Myriam Soumaré of France took the win, the night after winning 100m silver, with Dina Asher-Smith of Britain second, Hanna-Maari Latvala of Finland third and Léa Sprunger of Switzerland fourth.

Proper in fifth still produced a time that had her ranked tenth overall – three-hundredths of a second faster than Jamile Samuel of the Netherlands, who did qualify for the final, but from a slower semi.

The reigning four-time national champion said afterwards: “It’s the fastest I’ve ever run, and I did it in my second race of the day in the European Athletics semi-finals so I can’t be annoyed at that.

“I did the best I could. Looking back, maybe there were another couple of hundredths that maybe could have got me into the final.

“It was by no means a perfect race. I definitely feel like I can run faster, hopefully I can build on this season.

“The only thing that would have really annoyed me going to sleep tonight was if I was coming away from this race going into it a bag of nerves and not producing anywhere near my best and letting the occasion get to me.

“I think it’s totally the opposite. I held my nerve, clawed it back towards the end and I really gave it everything I had.

“You always have a tiny bit of disappointment as it would only have been a couple of hundredths keeping me from the final.

“I did all I could and in athletics, that’s what it comes down to. When I’m in training, that’s what I’ll be thinking of – those couple of hundredths.

“I can get my PB down a bit more, but it’s onto the relay next.”

Christine McMahon came eighth in her 400m hurdles semi-final, having survived a dramatic heat yesterday.

The Commonwealth Games graduate clocked 57.31 seconds, slower than her first-round performance, as Eilidh Child of Britain took the win in 54.71.

Laura Reynolds complained of breathing trouble and asthma after withdrawing midway through the women’s 20k walk, which was won by Russian Elmira Alembekova.