AN EAST Lancashire contender to be England’s strongest man has set his sights on taking on the world next year.

Strongman Mathew Heys is piling on the reps this summer as he prepares to compete against the best the country has to offer next month.

The Elite Britain’s Strongest Man 2015 will see the Colne 33-year-old bid for a top four place to qualify for Arnold World Amateur Strongman Championships next year in the USA.

The dad-of-two first took up the sport in 2013 after the keen rugby and cricket player suffered a serious bicep tear.

Since then Mathew has gone from strength to strength after first picking up a dumbbell as part of his physio training.

The Judgefields resident, who is originally from Manchester, said: “One thing led to another and I started to take part in competitions and is has built from there.

“I really enjoy it and I can’t believe how far I have come in such a short space of time.”

Mathew, who trains in Great Harwood, has taken part in a string of competitions across the country and has taken victory several times.

In May 2014 he won the Merseyside Strongest Man and also placed first in Blackburn’s Strongest Man in May.

He also claimed victory in the Elite North of England’s Strongest Man Competition in June.

Standing at 6ft 1’’ and 23 stone, Mathew trains three times a week for nine hours in total to prepare himself for the rigorous tests the competition organisers through at him.

He said: “It wasn’t something that I really knew about before two years ago.

“After I was injured I started to go to the gym to help my body recover and build my strength up and it just continued from there.

“I manage to fit my training around my family and work life and my family and friends really support me.

“It has been an amazing journey so far and it would be fantastic to place highly in the competition in September to qualify for a place in the USA.

“The events are not announced until closer to the time but some that might be chosen by the judges include tyre flips and pulling large vehicles.”

Since 2013 Mathew has also competed in Darwen, Sheffield and Bolton.

The Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships, which debuted in 2010, will feature more than 60 of the world’s top male amateur strongman athletes and 40 of the top female amateur athletes from more than 25 countries.