"I did know that my PB (personal best) was quite close to the record so I wanted to try and get that but I didn't expect to go quite as quick as that," Rodgers said.

"It's getting easier and more comfortable for me as the competition has gone on.

"I had far fewer nerves today - my first race was absolutely terrifying but I was okay today.

"It feels amazing to have won these medals but I want to work on improving myself again for next year."

Silver was won by Ani Palian of Ukraine in 41.61 and Marianne Fredbo of Norway won bronze in 41.78.

Rogers' victory was the highlight for the British team on day five of the competition, which saw them scoop a total of four gold medals.

Heather Frederiksen put in a dominant performance in the final of the women's S8 100m freestyle to claim her third gold medal of the competition.

The world record holder, who is making her return to competitive action following a drug ban, touched in a blistering time of 1min 06.83sec to finish ahead of Ukraine's Olesya Vladykina who won silver in 1:09.80 and compatriot Emma Hollis who won the bronze in 1:12.44.

European record holder James Crisp won his first gold of the competition with a strong performance in the men's S9 100m backstroke as he touched in at 1:03.68 to finish a second ahead of Tamás Sors of Hungary.

"The race went well," Crisp said.

"I was just off my best but I've had a hard week of racing leading up to this one - more than I'm probably used to.

"So the time wasn't that important.

"It was just about going out and getting that gold medal."

European 400m freestyle Champion Stephanie Millward stormed to victory in the women's S9 100m backstroke with a time of 1:10.54 as compatriot Louise Watkin took silver in 1:15.16 and Emilie Gral of France claimed bronze in 1:17.16.

"I was hoping for a world record in that race," Millward said.

"I know I can do it so I have just got to keep training hard and then at 2012 I might get that gold as well."

Dan Pepper, who won the 200m freestyle gold earlier this week, won the silver medal in the men's S14 100m breaststroke as he finished just behind Dutch swimmer Marc Evers while European 100m butterfly bronze medallist Hannah Russell won her first silver medal of the competition with an impressive swim in the women's S12 100m backstroke.

Emma Cattle won her first medal of the competition in Germany in the women's S10 100m backstroke after securing silver behind Nina Ryabova of Russia, while Anthony Stephens rounded off the medal haul for the team as he won the silver medal in the men's S5 100m freestyle and showed his strength to power through the water to finish in 1:17.27.

National performance director John Atkinson said: "One day to go and we are all looking forward to the final day of the competition and we are looking forward to some more strong performances from the swimmers as they aim to wrap up the meet on a high."

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