A bodybuilder from the North-East has overcome a debilitating illness to become a champion and break a world record.

John Battye, of Darlington, suffers from menieres disease, a condition of the inner ear which causes severe attacks of vertigo, including dizziness, vomiting and periods of deafness.

But Mr Battye has secured his British bench pressing title for the sixth consecutive year, and broken a world record into the bargain.

He took the title again in the British power lifting championships in Wales last week, and broke the world power-lifting federation world record by lifting 272.5kg.

Despite being advised by a surgeon not to continue his weight-lifting after being diagnosed with menieres, he still completes 25 minutes of training daily.

He has been invited to compete in the world championships in November, where he will attempt to take the title and to break his own record.

Mr Battye said he was proud of his status as a drug-free athlete.

"I am tested on a regular basis," he said. "I have all my certificates to show that I do all this without the use of illegal drugs.

"I have a goal to improve the quality and standard of lifting within Great Britain.

"A lot of lifters come to me now and say 'how do I improve', and I usually go wherever to see them and help them with training methods.

"You only need to do 25 minutes a day with heavy weights because your body needs time to repair the damage you have done."