IT was an event where brute strength was the order of the day - and an impressive amount of muscle was on show.

Strongmen and athletes pushed themselves to the limit as they competed in a series of tough challenges.

It was all part of a day organised by Matty Green, the owner of Cumbria Strength and Conditioning based in Dalton.

The 31-year-old, who opened his gym two years ago, said: "It was a brilliant day. This was a regional heat of a much bigger international competition organised by the British Natural Strongman Federation, and it was great to be able to host it.

"At the gym we focus on body conditioning and that varies by individual. So for some people it is simply ensuring they are ready for everything life throws at them, while for others - for example, professional athletes - it is about preparing them for their sporting performances."

A series of gruelling events saw 20 competitors - split across three weight classes - take part in, amongst other things, tyre flips and axle bar deadlifts.

It was an event with echos of the famous World's Strongest Man series which hits TV screens during the festive period.

And while it did not quite have the international flavour of that contest, it did draw competitors from across the north of England.

While weights in the deadlift competition reached 250kg, the tyre used in the tyreflip was an astonishing 310kg

Mr Green, a former Royal Marine of 10 years said: "The winners of each category will now go on to a national final in July and from there could go on to the international final in Sweden.

"We have 90 members at the gym right now and things are going really well. We hope to host the competition again next year."