Jessica Ennis voted European athlete of 2012

Jessica Ennis has won the European female athlete of the year award following her Olympic success.

The 26-year-old, who won heptathlon gold at the London games, has become the first British woman to win the award since Dame Kelly Holmes eight years ago.

Ennis beat high jumper Anna Chicherova and javelin ace Barbora Spotakova, both Olympic champions, to the prestigious accolade.

The award will be given to Ennis in Malta next week, where she could be joined at the ceremony by fellow Brit Mo Farah.

Farah is expected to be given the men's trophy after winning both the 5,000m and 10,000m races at the Olympics in August.