A BODYBUILDER is celebrating a chance to prove himself among the world's top fitness stars in this year's Mr Universe competition.

Paul Hildreth, from Darlington, is to compete in the contest, which boasts action movie hero Arnold Schwarzenegger as a previous winner.

Mr Hildreth, 26, who is unemployed, is in training six days a week at the Classic World of Fitness.

A former Branksome Comprehensive School pupil, he took up bodybuilding eight years ago and won his place in the contest by finishing fifth in the Mr Britain competition earlier this year. His other achievements to date include a second place in Britain as an under-21 competitor and a seventh place in the World Championships in Stuttgart in 1996.

He was also second in Mr North Britain this year.

"I was just really thin at school, so I started lifting a few weights and went from there," said Mr Hildreth, from John Dixon Lane.

Now he is eager for the big day at Newcastle City Hall, on October 6.

"I feel over the moon, because I didn't expect to do it this year. It's like the Olympics of bodybuilding."