Everything you need to know about the European Athletics Championships

Some of Europe's best track and field athletes are getting ready to race their way to glory as the European Athletics Championships get underway.

For the first time in history, the Championships are being held in the UK, with more than 1,500 athletes from around 50 countries expected to take part.

Some of Britain's biggest names will be competing on home soil against top athletes from across the continent, all aiming to add more medals to their collections.

But who should you keep an eye on, and what else can we expect from the week-long event?

Here's everything you need to know..

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This year's Championships are being held in Birmingham, making it the first time the UK has hosted the European Athletics Championships.

Most of the action will take place at Alexander Stadium, which was used when the Commonwealth Games took place in Birmingham in 2022.

Other events, including the marathon and race walking, will be held on the city's streets.

The Championships will begin on Monday 10 August and run until Sunday 16 August, with a full week of athletics action to look forward to.

Athletes will be competing for European titles across a wide range of track and field events.

There are 50 gold medals to be won at these championships including a mixed 4x100m relay for the first time.

The action begins with the men's hammer and women's shot put events, plus sprint and hurdles on the track, with the first medals handed out including the winner of the men's 5000m final.

The final day of the championships will feature nine finals, including 4x400m relays, the 4x100m relay, the women's 1500m and the men's pole vault.

There will also be "one-day deciders" where events such as the 100m sprint will go from heats through to the final on the same day.

Meet Bab the bull - the Championships' official mascot.

If you're wondering, why a bull?

Well, according to organisers, the animal is a powerful symbol of the city and had been linked to it since the 16th Century.

They added the bull represents "determination, strength, and tenacity".

Home fans will have plenty of British athletes to cheer on.

Leading the way is Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson, one of the biggest names in global athletics.

400m star Matthew Hudson-Smith, who's from the West Midlands, will be going for gold in front of the stand named after him.

The Alexander Stadium's North Stand has been renamed the Matthew Hudson-Smith Stand in honour of the Wolverhampton-born Olympic medallist and four-time European champion.

World Indoor champion Georgia Hunter-Bell will be looking to continue her outstanding form, as will some of Britain's most decorated sprinters, Olympians Dina Asher-Smith and Amy Hunt, who will also be hoping for podium positions.

Other big names include former heptathlete world champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson,as well as Max Burgin and Jake Wightman who will lead the British challenge in the men's 800m.

From elsewhere in the world, Swedish pole vault world record holder Mondo Duplantis, Norwegian long-distance runner Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Greek long jump athlete Miltiadis Tentoglou are all seeking to win their fourth successive European titles.

Other big names include Dutch track and field athlete Femke Broeders-Bol, Italian middle distance runner Nadia Battocletti and long jumper Mattia Furlani, as well as Portuguese runner Isaac Nader.

You can watch live coverage of every session on either BBC One or BBC Two as well as iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app.

Or, you can tune in to Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds for daily live commentary.