THE latest teenage recruit to the Green Howards has more power behind him than most.

For 17-year-old Graham Winter is the under-23 Power Lifting European Champion, and already holds two world records.

Pte Winter, from Darlington, has just completed a course at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, and is about to join the 1st Battalion The Green Howards.

He holds the world records for the dead lift of 179kg and for the squat lift of 150kg.

Later this year Pte Winter will be flying off to South Africa where he is due to take part in the World Power Lifting Championships in Cape Town.

Capt Steve Mincher of the Green Howards Recruiting Team, said: "This is a quite magnificent achievement by a young man, and we are proud that he will represent the Green Howards, the Army and the country at the World Championships in South Africa.

"The Regiment is always keen to encourage its soldiers to reach the highest possible level in their sports, and any young man joining the Green Howards will have a wide range of sporting and travel opportunities.