MEN from across the region went head-to-head yesterday to become the North of England's Strongest Man.

The competition, in its eighth year at the Barnard Castle Truck Show, County Durham, saw 12 the men compete in five rounds.

Fittingly, the competition started with the truck pull, but this year there was a twist.

"The lads were actually pulling three trucks," said organiser Bob Daglish, from Elite Strongman Promotions.

"There is truck, on a flatbed truck, on another truck, which is about 26 tonnes, over about 25 to 30 metres across a special track.

"For me, the truck pull has always been the main event of the strongman competitions back from when I was young and I used to watch it on TV. But the level the lads are competing at is as hard as it was ten or 15 years ago, when you had the likes of Geoff Capes competing.

"We've got two or three competing at the top level and a few up and coming competitors who will be worth keeping an eye on."

As well as the truck pull there were other traditional events, including the 18 stone log-lift and the final round where the competitors lifted huge stones.

The event was won by Dave McAneny, from Penrith, who will compete in next year's televised England's Strongest Man.

Second place went to Mark Lawson, from Barnard Castle, and third went to Gary Gardener, from Rotherham.

Mr McAneny said: "I was quietly confident, but when I heard Mark was back in it after being out with injury I had my doubts, but I was happy to come through in the end."

During the competition, and despite being out of action for a year following snapped tendons on his bicep, Mr Lawson set a new record in the stones event.

"It was about the only decent thing I did all day," said Mr Lawson. "I held the UK record in the event anyway at 25 seconds so I was pretty pleased to comeback after a year out and get it down to 20."