Heavy weights for Oli

And Bexhill strongman Oli Thompson is pumping one with each arm in order to become Britain's, and possibly the World's, strongest man.

Oli has just returned from a year long injury lay-off courtesy of a torn left bicep.

Now he is looking to step-up his training to compete with the finest strongmen in the world.

To do that he needs the best equipment, which is why Oli has taken delivery of the enormous weights at his training base at Phsyiques Gym, on Little Common Road.

The same sort of weights are being used by the Polish athletes who have dominated the sport in recent years.

And Oli knows to compete on their level he will have to put himself through the same rigorous training regimes.

To demonstrate the immense weight of the dumbbells Ollie asked gym-goer Craig Lindsey to try lifting them

He struggled to hoist something almost his own body weight.

However, the giant Oli had no such problems.

And he's confident about reclaiming his place as Britain's Strongest Man in April, after the injury forced him to miss out on the defence the title he won in 2006.

He said: "I'm feeling good. Better than I have ever done and stronger than before the injury.

"It was frustrating to get the injury. I want to get back and show them what I can do. Just watching things on TV and not being able to defend my title was hard to take.

"I'm 28 and I've not even peaked yet as a strongman, so things are going well. These weights should really help with the training."

Oli's sponsor and Physiques Gym boss Jon Bowles said: "He has got the Britain's Strongest Man coming up and I can see him winning them. With the training he's putting in and the form he's showing he should win. I have not seen anybody who looks as good.

"Then we have got the European competition against Mariusz Pudzianowski who is a four times world champion. That's why we have got these weights, which are the biggest in England I think, so we can compete with guys like him."

Oli is on the look out for additional sponsors to help him in his quest to become the World's strongest man. Anyone who can help is asked to call Jon on 07967317912.