England's athletes enjoyed a brilliant golden hat-trick on the third night of athletics in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Dean Macey won the decathlon despite more injury problems, Lisa Dobriskey was a surprise winner of the women's 1500 metres and Christine Ohuruogu beat world and Olympic champion Tonique Williams to claim the 400m.

There were also bronze medals for Mara Yamauchi in the 10,000m, Nadia Williams in the triple jump and Andrew Turner in the 110m hurdles. And Scotland's Chris Baillie took silver in the hurdles while Wales' Hayley Tullett won bronze in the 1,500m.

Macey held a 187-point lead going into the second day of competition but, struggling with a hamstring problem, could only manage 14.94 seconds in the 110m hurdles and 46.76m in the discus.

A superb 4.70m in the pole vault eased his worries but the 28-year-old from Essex then injured his right arm with his first throw of 56.93m in the javelin and declined to take any more attempts.

Australian Jason Dudley threw a personal best of 69.27m to move into the lead by 37 points, but the Englishman was far quicker over the final event, the 1,500m, and finished almost 30 seconds ahead of Dudley to secure his first major championship.

''It's about time,'' said Macey, whose career has been blighted by injury since winning world championship silver in 1999. ''This runs my wedding day close. I never ever thought I'd say that, it's fantastic.

''If I could get 20 medals made I would dish them out to my medical team. Three weeks ago I injured my hamstring and should never have been on the starting line. I didn't realise this was going to happen. I know I said I was in good shape but I had to say that. I was trying to fool myself more than anyone else.

''I got out here and needed a miracle. Getting on the line was a miracle, finishing was another miracle.

''Four years ago I was half an inch away from retiring. My family and friends were in the right place and got me back on track. My parents have flown around the world numerous times and I've never rewarded them.

''I'm proud of myself. For the first time I can pat myself on the back and say 'I'm the man'. It's taken a long time.''

While Macey had been favourite for gold, Dobriskey's victory was a major surprise.

Watched by Olympic double gold medallist and champion in 2002, Kelly Holmes, the 22-year-old from Ashford produced a superb sprint finish over the final 100m to beat Australia's Sarah Jamieson into second.

Tullett took the bronze with England's Helen Clitheroe unfortunate to miss out on a medal in fourth.

''I can't believe it, it's just fantastic,'' said Dobriskey. ''Coming off the last bend I thought I was going to get fourth.

''I did a few silly things tactically but I just tried to hang on and be sensible, using my head. I could sense a few people were slowing so I thought 'just go for it.'

''It's brilliant to get England's first track gold medal, I'm really chuffed. It's a real honour. My dad phoned me this morning and it inspired me. I think he'll be pleased.''

Ohuruogu completed the golden treble in the final event of the evening, setting a new personal best of 50.28s to leave Williams almost half a second behind.

The 21-year-old former netball international said: ''I've been dreaming of this for a very long time and it's nice to put it all together and get the result I wanted.

''I had a lap time in my head so I knew what I needed to get done today. Now I am hoping I can make a name for myself. I've worked very hard for it.''

In the 10,000m, Yamauchi looked to have been dropped by the two Kenyans and Australian Benita Johnson but realised Johnson was fading fast and surged past with 600m to go.

The 32-year-old clocked 31:49.40 with Lucy Wangui Kabuu taking gold ahead of her team-mate Evelyne Wambui Nganga.

There was also a bronze for Williams in the women's triple jump. The 24-year-old Londoner set a new personal best of 13.42m in finishing third behind Jamaica's Trecia Smith and Nigeria's Otonye Iworima.

Baillie had earlier claimed Scotland's first track medal of the Games in a thrilling finish to the 110 metres hurdles.

In a race won convincingly by Jamaica's Maurice Wignall, Baillie took silver by 1/100th of a second from England's Andrew Turner.

It was an emotional occasion for Baillie, whose older brother Ross was a promising hurdler when he died from an allergic reaction to peanuts which were in a chicken sandwich eaten during a break in training back in 1999.

Baillie, 24, who broke his brother's Scottish record with a new personal best of 13.44 in the heats, added: ''It was amazing. To get the silver is a great achievement.''

England's Kelly Sotherton and Jessica Ennis occupy the gold and silver medal positions after day one of the heptathlon.

Ennis took a surprise lead after running 13.32 seconds in the 100 metres hurdles and setting a new personal best of 1.91m in the high jump.

But pre-championship favourite Sotherton hit back with a personal best of her own in the 200m to end the day on 3,922 points, 73 ahead of her 20-year-old team-mate.