A WEE COUNTY strongman has brought home the gold once more after setting a new British record for deadlift.

Chris Beetham, of Tullibody, was at the recent British Full Power Powerlifting Championships where he claimed the title in his 145kg class and took the deadlift record with an incredible 305.5kg.

The father-of-one felt great in the warm-up at Elysium Gym in Edinburgh where the competition took place.

His focus this year has been on powerlifting and has been eyeing up the British title since last October.

In powerlifting there are three attempts at squat, bench press and deadlift with the best result from each contributing to the total.

Chris said: "My first two squats flew up so went for a personal best squat of 260kg, 4kg above my Scottish record, but it wasn't there on the day and I failed it.

"I finished with a 245kg squat."

The bench press could not have gone better, according to the local strongman, who bounced back from a broken back a few years ago and became serious about his weight lifting after his recovery.

He lifted all three attempts and hit a new personal best with 175kg.

Chris said: "I was very happy with this as I'd been struggling through training for months with a torn rotator cuff but my physiotherapist Anne Stewart got it healed just in time.

"The deadlift was the movement that had been on my mind for a long time over the months, I knew I was within touching distance of the British 145kg class record of 305kg.

"I opened at 280kg to ensure I got a total and won the title.

"My second attempt, I went 305.5kg and got a successful lift and the British record.

"It really was the icing on the cake, and to do it with my mum and dad in the crowd watching made it a special moment."

Next for the local strongman will be the Scotland's Strongest Man final at the SEC Centre in Glasgow in eight weeks.

A few months ago Chris was also a part of the Scottish team that travelled to Hungary for the World's Strongest Natural Team event where they finished fourth.

Since then he picked up sponsorship with leading equipment company Cerberus Strength and wanted to give thanks to other sponsors, too, including The Inn at Torbrex, Wm McEwan & Sons Roofers as well as Roy & McIntyre Funeral Home.