Palmer, aged 31, from Lithgow, won the first two games then fought off a magnificent comeback from the Englishman to win 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 6-11, 11-10 (3-1) in a little under two hours.

Palmer now has more British Open titles than any other player in the modern era and said he wasn’t writing off his chances of winning a third World Open when it is played in Manchester in November.

“I’ve never won the British Open-World Open double in the same year, so I’ll definitely be going for it,” he said.

Palmer silenced the big crowd at the new Echo Arena in the Liverpool docklands when he took the first two games and led 6-4 in the third.

But Willstrop, the winner of three top level tournaments this year, fought back and when he levelled at two games apiece it looked as though the 24 year old Yorkshireman would go on to win his first British title.

“I had a chance to win in straight games at 2-0 up and then 6-4 and 7-5 in the third, but he came back so well,” Palmer said.

“Then in the fifth I took my chances and gave it everything.”

Willstrop was two points away from victory at 9-6 and then had a match point at 10-9, but Palmer said he didn’t panic.

“I could feel he was getting a bit nervous and a bit tired then at 9-9 I had a harsh point called against me to give him match point, but I stayed strong and kept it together and I think possibly my experience came through.

“I was more nervous at the start of the fifth game than I was at 10-10 in the fifth.”

Palmer said there was a smattering of Australians in the packed crowd, including coach Shaun Moxham, but most were cheering for the Englishman.

“The crowd was pretty fair throughout, but yeah, most of them were going for James,” he said.

“It made me want to fight harder.”

He said it was hard to describe the feeling of winning a fourth title.

“To win three was great, but to come through this week after not being in great form, beating quality players like (world number one) Amr Shabana and James … to win four, it’s a lot of history.

“I’m a long way behind Geoff Hunt and the Khans (Jahangir and Jansher), but I’ve won more than any of the modern players.”

There were none prouder than his achievements than his parents, Lithgow’s John and Silvia Palmer, David’s daughter Kayla, wife Melinda who also hails from Lithgow and her parents Harry and Jean Gurney also of Lithgow.

Palmer moved from his long-time base in Belgium towards the end of last year to Boston to take advantage of the increased number of tournaments in North America.

As a result he lost his daily contact with Moxham and when he was bundled out of the early rounds of big money events in the Middle East, many squash fans wondered whether that was the beginning of the end.

“It’s been a bit of a transition that’s for sure.

“I was on the court with Shaun every day for 10 years and not to have him there every day was a different,” he said.

“The last couple of results haven’t been great, but I got back to some old school training leading up to the British Open and it paid off.

“It’s been a disappointing last six months, but this has given me a big boost.”

Palmer now plays the season-ending Super Series in the England, before heading back to Australia where he will play a number of tournaments, including the Australian Open, the NSW Open and the Queensland Open.

Ironically he has never won the Australian Open.

“It’s a funny thing … I’ve gone close a few times and had a few match points to win it,” he said.

“It’s one of the reasons I’m coming back; I want to get my name on that trophy.”

In the women’s final Malaysia’s Nicol David, coached by Australian Liz Irving beat Jenny Duncalf 9-1, 10-8, 9-0.