Tunbridge Wells' Will Bayley produced a brilliant performance to take gold at the World Para Table Tennis Championships in Andalucia.

Bayley, competing in the men’s class 7 singles, beat European champion and world No.2 Jean-Paul Montanus from the Netherlands 3-0 - a result all the sweeter after losing to the Dutchman in the European Championship final in 2013 and 2015.

Minster's Ross Wilson, meanwhile, was beaten in his class 8 semi-final and will take bronze.

“I was so focused,” said Bayley, who regained the title he won in 2014. “I just knew that when you’re playing someone like JP you have to be on top form and at your very best, so I knew I had to be totally focused in every single point to win and that was probably one of my best performances.

"I had to make it a tactical battle to have a chance against him and I was tactically good today."

Montanus took the first three points but after that it was all Bayley. He took the first set 11-6 and the second 11-7 with clever play that either produced winners or drew errors from an increasingly frustrated opponent.

At 5-3 in the third the Dutch coach called a timeout, but it didn’t halt Bayley’s momentum and a backhand error from Montanus gave him four match points. He only needed one and as a forehand from the Dutchman flew long Bayley held his arms aloft in triumph before sharing a hug with his sporting opponent.

“Being world champion again means everything to me," Bayley added. "I train really hard and work hard every day - everyone does - and anyone who knows me knows I love this sport.

"It means everything to me - more than just table tennis it is about my mindset and my attitude. It’s about trying to inspire people - my kids for example - to never give up on your dream and that means a lot to me. This shows if you work hard, never give up and believe in yourself you can achieve anything."

After overcoming a serious knee injury and taking silver in Tokyo last year Bayley declared that he would be back to try and regain his Paralympic title in Paris and he has not lost a singles match since then.

“I’ve got to take it one step at a time,” he said. “I’ve got the European Championships next year - that is a big one and there are so many good players. My first match here was probably my hardest match against [the] No.20 in the world so anything can happen. But I just feel like I’ve got a good all-round game and I’m ready to take on anyone in Paris.”

Minster's Wilson was thwarted in his men's class 8 world title defence after a deciding-set defeat to France's world and Paralympic team medallist Thomas Bouvais.

Wilson, a four-set winner over Rio 2016 Paralympic silver medallist Andras Csonka in the quarter-final, opened with an 11-5 first-set win and led 7-5 in the second when the French coach called a timeout.

Bouvais went on to edge the set 12-10 but Wilson took the third 11-4. Back came Bouvais to take the fourth 11-7 and match points for both players were saved until at 15-14 behind Wilson sent a backhand long.

"Maybe it just wasn’t my day today," he said. "I tried my best and that is all you can do.

"I’m really disappointed right now as obviously I want more and I felt like I’ve been playing well in the last couple of rounds. It was just one of those games where you do a couple of things wrong and then you’re in a big fight and maybe I should have done better at 2-1.

"I know a bronze is a good achievement and I’m proud of myself for that but at the end of the day it wasn’t what I wanted."