Market Drayton's Eddie Hall is Britain's Strongest Man

Market Drayton muscle man and mechanic Eddie Hall has been officially crowned the strongest man in Britain.

The 23-year-old, who was already England's strongest man, outperformed 15 other beefcakes to snatch the Ultimate UK Strongest Man 2011 title.

And now the engaged father-of-one has set his sights on another Herculean task – becoming the world's strongest man.

Mr Hall, who pumps iron in the gym for more than 15 hours a week and observes a strict diet, said he hoped his recent victory at the UK contest in Belfast would propel him on to the global stage.

He said: "I was really happy to win England's strongest man two years in a row, so to win this title is a real achievement for me.

"Now I want to enter international events and the next one will be the world's strongest man. "Unfortunately, the title I have just won doesn't qualify you for the world contest so I need to take part in more events next year or hope I get invited to take part."

He added: "However I get there, I really want to win it."

Mr Hall said that one of his biggest challenges was finding time to stick to a demanding gym routine while holding down a job.

He has worked in the garage at the Market Drayton's Robert Wiseman Dairies site as a mechanic for the last three years.

He stands 6ft 2ins tall and weighs 23 stone but only became interested in strong man competitions about four years ago.