UK Athletics head coach has urged Britain's athletes to build on their success at last week's World Championships in Berlin.

Britain won six medals in the Olympic Stadium - two of each colour - the most since seven were claimed in Seville in 1999 (one gold, four silver, two bronze).

Jessica Ennis and Phillips Idowu struck gold in the heptathlon and triple jump respectively, Lisa Dobriskey (1,500m) and the men's 4x400m relay team won silver on the final day, while Jenny Meadows (800m) and the men's 4x100m relay team took bronze.

That meant the team surpassed by one the target set by Van Commenee, while there were also encouraging performances from William Sharman - fourth in the 110m hurdles - and the likes of James Brewer (1,500m) and David Greene (400m hurdles).

But the 51-year-old Dutchman Charles van Commenee is not about to rest on his laurels with less than three years to go to London's Olympics and a target of eight medals on home soil.

"The target was five so it's always clear in this sport, you can always count and at the end say that was a success or it wasn't. The numbers speak for themselves," Van Commenee said.

"I know there was some pessimism in certain circles so it's always nice at the end of the championships to look back and say that was not necessary.

"Of course in the end it's about medals but for the experts you look also into potential and how the team as a bigger group has achieved. Therefore you have to look at the top eight positions (20), I know it's not very sexy to do that but it gives a good indication for what the team has done as a group.

"It's important that we build on this success in the next few years. There's not much time to go to London. We have a target there of eight medals and there's a huge difference five and eight, and nobody cares how many people we have in the top eight there.

"There's a long way to go but I would rather have this result than going home with two or three obviously."

Van Commenee only took up his post in February this year and was perhaps understandably not intent on claiming all the credit for the success in Berlin.

But it is undeniable that Britain won just four medals at the European Indoor Championships in Turin in March - well adrift of the 10 won two years previously in Birmingham - but claimed six at a much tougher standard of competition in the German capital.

"I don't think results come overnight," Van Commenee added. "It's a result of many years of hard work done by the athletes, together with the coaches, and most likely also by previous team management.

"What we've done so far is try to get a better sense of accountability amongst coaches and athletes and also more focus on two places in the country, north London and Loughborough, and to build up the excellence there so that people want to be a part of that and work together.

"Teamwork is a very important thing for us. It's so difficult to do in our sport because it's the ultimate individual sport. Lots of people have several skills, especially amongst the coaches, but also the medical staff and other support teams. If these people actually work together we can even do much better than this.

"I hope it (a team ethos) started already in Turin although we did not hit the target there. We may not hit a target along the way to London but the same reason we should not panic then (Turin), is why we should not be like we are on top of the problem now.

"It's definitely an encouraging result. That's the best word I think. It's encouraging, but having said that I am also aware that still lots has to be done.

"Five medals was a goal to achieve and when that's clear you know what to do to achieve that goal. There is nothing worse than setting a goal too low because you achieve it all the time, there is no incentive to do better. You have to be ambitious."

Van Commenee also insisted before the championships that he did not want to hear athletes complain about an "injury, pain, niggle or virus", and although that was not strictly adhered to, when Dobriskey won a silver medal after recovering from a stress fracture to her back, that was understandable.

"I insisted whatever you do, we can't all win but you can keep your mouth shut about nonsense and niggles and pains," he added.

"The one or two who did mention it had a very valid reason. That is good."