MUSCLES flexed, stretched and strained as some of the region's strongest men put their bodies to the ultimate test at the weekend.

Hundreds of spectators cheered the men on as they began their challenge towards the title of Britain's Strongest Man.

The hall at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, in County Durham, was transformed into an arena, with cars, weights and kegs used to test the men's strength.

Six of the 18 men competing in the northern heats on Saturday made it through to England's Strongest Man and have their sights on the British title.

After the log lift, dead lift, dead lift hold with cars and sledge pull, and an exciting medley final, Mark Felix, from Blackburn in Lancashire, was crowned northern champion.

But for the scores of local fans at the event, their cheers went to 38-year-old strongman Steven Brooks, from Spennymoor, who overcame serious injury to land second place.

The runner-up in Britain's Strongest Man in 1999-2000 had a disc in his lower spine removed after hurting his back doing a tyre flip in 2002.

"I was told by the surgeon I would never compete again and I didn't expect to be here now. But I had strong will power, worked hard and was really determined," he said.

Other winners were Darren Forthrop, of Bradford, Darren Sadler, of Boroughbridge, Tim Thacker, of Harrogate, both North Yorkshire, and World Strongest Man 2001 challenger Andrew Raines, of Barnsley.

Organiser Alan Turner, said: "These men eat, sleep and breathe Britain's Strongest Man. The title is highly sought after, it's every man's dream."