STRONGMAN Alastair Black is beefing up his bid to lift major titles this year.

Alastair, 23, of West Cornforth, is in training for the northern regional qualifier of the UK's Strongest Man competition in Hartlepool on April 30.

And to fuel his body in preparation he is being sponsorsed by butchers H Coates and Son's, whose Coxhoe shop gives him about £70 worth of meat every week to help build him up.