Nottingham, Aug 8 (IANS): England regained the Ashes by sealing an innings and 78-run victory over Australia on the third day of the fourth Test here on Saturday.

England needed only three wickets to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series and they took it without much trouble at Trent Bridge. Australia were bowled out for 253 runs in their second innings.

They claimed those three wickets within an hour of play on Saturday. Pacer Ben Stokes claimed a wicket on Saturday to end with figures of 6-36 in the second innings.

The win caps a remarkable reversal from the 0-5 whitewash suffered by England Down Under in 2013-14.

Stokes second over of the morning set England on their course for victory as he claimed the opening breakthrough, forcing Mitchell Starc to edge one to Ian Bell at second slip for a duck.

Fellow pacer Mark Wood got in on the act as he bowled Josh Hazlewood (0) as England sensed victory in double-quick time with barely an hour of the morning session having passed.

Adam Voges (51) did go to his half century but it was his partner Lyon whose wicket led to the regaining of the Ashes, as he played on off the bowling of Wood to spark scenes of wild celebration as England reached the crowning moment.

England took a giant step on their road to victory when Australia collapsed to just 60 all out in 111 balls on Thursday with right-arm Stuart Broad taking eight for 15.

Within moments of the loss, Australian captain Michael Clarke announced his retirement after the final Ashes Test at The Oval cricket ground, in London, this month.

He told Channel 9: "The time is right. I want to play the last Test at The Oval and give it one more crack. I'll take so many memories away. I'm looking forward to sitting and cheering the boys on. It's the right time."

England have now won five of the last seven Ashes series and the last four at home.