A STRONGMAN from the North-East is looking forward to competing among the best in the world.

Rob Spence, 21, from Leadgate, near Consett, came first in the under 23 category of the recent Strongman Revolution in Maidenhead, Buckinghamshire.

He is now looking forward to taking part in the UK’s Strongest Man in St Albans on July 27 and World’s Strongest Man in Canada in September.

Mr Spence said: “I started going to the gym to lose a bit weight, but realised I was pretty strong and then I started chasing after numbers, trying to get stronger and stronger.

“I have always been fascinated with weights.”

To win in Maidenhead he had to deadlift a car, carry a 140kg tombstone as well as lift a 300kg weight on his back.

Mr Spence, who works as a farmer, and lives with his girlfriend, Jess, and baby daughter, Katie, got into body building seriously two years ago.

He now trains up to six times a week for three hours a time at Spartan Performance in Consett.

He said: “It is like a dream come true to have qualified.”