Mo Farah runs fastest 5,000m time of the year in Anniversary Games success

Briton looked in fine shape ahead of next month's Olympic Games in Rio

Mo Farah continued his fine London form in front of his home crowd (Getty)

Mo Farah set himself up for the defence of his twin Olympic titles in Rio by claiming a dominant 5,000metres victory with an impressive display of front-running at the Anniversary Games in London on Saturday.

The 33-year-old, back, at the Olympic Stadium where at London 2012 he memorably completed the first of three global long-distance doubles, destroyed the field and produced a storming final lap to cross the line in 12mins 59.29secs, the fastest time in the world this year.

The Londoner, in his final race before Rio, finished more than 15 seconds ahead of Scot Andy Butchart, who came through strongly to take second.

Farah received a huge roar when introduced to the crowd and the volume rose as he moved into the lead and pulled clear shortly after the 3,000m mark. From then on the race was against the clock only and Farah powered down the home straight at the end of 12.5 gruelling laps to dip under 13 minutes.

The runner, who now heads to Font Romeu in the French Pyrenees for altitude training ahead of Rio, said: “I'm in good shape. I have to stay patient, injury free, keep my feet on the ground.

”I want to do well, but I have to keep doing what I'm doing. The crowd were amazing, this track means so much to me.”

Elsewhere, Jessica Ennis-Hill attempted to play down the favourite tag bestowed upon her by heptathlon rivals, including fellow Briton Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

KJT won the long jump on Saturday with a season's best 6.84metres as Ennis-Hill finished seventh with 6.19m.

“People like to put pressure on. I don't see myself as the favourite,” Ennis-Hill, 30, said. “I haven't got the world lead and I didn't compete in Gotzis when everyone else did. There are quite a few girls who have upped their game this year. I don't feel like the favourite, no.”

Johnson-Thompson said: “She's a championship performer and defending champ. It's really tough competition. It's not going to be easy.“

Jessica Ennis-Hill could only manage a seventh-place finish in the long jump on Saturday (Getty)

Johnson-Thompson was satisfied in winning the long jump, following an outdoor personal best in Friday's high jump of 1.95m. There was additional satisfaction for Johnson-Thompson, who failed to record a legal jump at last year's World Championships in Beijing, ending her medal bid there.

The 23-year-old from Liverpool said: “I'm happy. No no-jumps. My lowest one was 6.60, so I'm pleased. Got a consistent set of good jumps. It's a long way better than what I've done this season. I just have to back myself now.

Great Britain's men's 4x100m team also made a statement ahead of the Olympics by running the fastest time in the world of 37.78s.

James Dasaolu, Adam Gemili, James Ellington and Chijindu Ujah were just 0.05 off the 17-year-old British record, while the squad's strength was demonstrated with Britain's B team of Richard Kilty, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Danny Talbot and Ojie Edoburun finishing just 0.03secs behind in second.

This success followed the team's gold medal at the recent European Championships in Amsterdam, raising hopes that the days of baton blunders and infighting are over and sending them to Rio in the best possible frame of mind.

“We've got a really good chance of challenging for a medal [in Rio] and we believe we are going to push for a gold,” said Gemili. “We are not there to fill the lane and go behind America and Jamaica. We want to be the best, just like the guys in 2004 [who won gold in the Athens Games], it's possible.”

Ellington said: “To leave this track on a high puts us on a wicked path going into the Games.”

Dina Asher-Smith, the European 200m champion, stepped down to the 100m and finished fourth in 11.09secs, into a headwind.

The 20-year-old, who in the last four years has gone from a kit carrier at London 2012 to British record holder over 100m and 200m, declared herself “moderately happy”.

James Elliington, Adam Gemili, Chijindu Ujah and James Dasaolu celebrate their 4x100m relay victory in London (Getty)

Matt Hudson-Smith claimed an impressive 400m win in 45.03secs after Martyn Rooney, who will be one of the British team's most experienced athletes in Rio, was disqualified.

He apologised on Twitter, saying: “A false start in a 400m is unacceptable.”

There was a second British false start, for Lawrence Clarke in the 110m hurdles final, while Andy Pozzi was forced to pull out of that race with cramp, having run a huge personal best of 13.19 in the heats, quicker than Dimitri Bascou's winning time of 13.20.

Shelayna Oskan-Clarke edged compatriot Lynsey Sharp into second by 0.08secs to take an 800m victory in a season's best 1:59.46.

Holland's world champion Dafne Schippers stormed to a 200m win in 22.13.

David Weir declared himself “happy” with his third-placed finish in the T54 1500m. Back at the scene of three of his four memorable triumphs four years ago, Weir was edged out by Swiss rival Marcel Hug and fellow Briton Richard Chiassaro as he came home in three minutes 19.92 seconds.

The 37-year-old, who managed to avoid being taken out by a crash which did for three of the nine-strong field, said he was still in a heavy phase of training, with this his final serious race before September's Paralympics.

Weir, who won gold from the 800m to the marathon at London 2012 and is so far entered in the 1,500m and marathon for Rio, said: “I have not tapered for this race. I will be in full swing for Rio.

”Preparations are okay. I still came third, I am still hitting top speed even though my arms are dead from training. I am going for five events (in Rio), not sure which ones. I am not saying which five.

There was a new world record for Weir's fellow Paralympic champion Richard Whitehead in the T42 200m, who marked his 40th birthday in the week by storming home in 23.03secs.

”I need to run slightly differently now, I need to run smarter,“ he said. ”It's lean and mean for 2016. I'm going to 22[secs] in Rio, I'll put that out there. I want to come back with gold in the 100 and the 200.”

There was a world record of 24.44secs for Libby Clegg in the T11 200m, while Jonnie Peacock had to settle for second place behind Jarryd Wallace in the T43/44 100m, clocking 10.87secs, with the American taking victory in 10.80.

Hannah Cockroft said a bad start cost her the chance of a world record in the T34 100m, although she still took a dominant victory in 17.61secs, and there was victory too for Sophie Hahn in the T38 100m.