THE strength of the human body was put to the test at a national contest in County Durham.

Some of the strongest men and women went head to head for top titles at the UK Truck Pulling Championships held at Streatlam Farm, at Barnard Castle, today (August 28).

Onlookers watched as ten-tonne vehicles were dragged over wet concrete on the site of the Barnard Castle Truck Show.

Twenty five men and two women proved their worth in salt as they battled it out in three disciplines - pushing a truck across 15 metres, pulling it while seated and pulling two trucks with a harness and rope.

Rob Morgan, of Sunderland, won the men's open class, Johnny Crosling, of Hartlepool, secured the men's 110 kilo class and Andrew Kennedy, of Sunderland, was crowned master's class winner.

The current world's strongest woman, Donna Moore, 36, of Catterick, took home the ladies' open class title while training pal and fellow professional Jenny Todd, 28, of Bishop Middleham, near Sedgefield, got her hands on the ladies' 80 kilo crown.

Ms Moore said: "We've got a really big competition (World's Strongest Woman) next month so this is just for fun."

Organiser Mark Lawson, of North East Strong Man's Promotions, Spennymoor, said: "There have been a lot of people here who I've never seen. It's been a pretty good standard."