AS far as tough competitions go, the annual Strongman Bolton contest certainly has plenty of pulling power.

Thousands of people came to witness more than 80 men and women take part in strength and fitness challenges, such as lifting and carrying heavy sandbags, and traditional deadlifts with loaded barbells.

Visitors could also have a go at various sports activities such as boxing, kick boxing and basketball.

The sixth event, renamed XL Expo, moved from its usual location of Victoria Square in the town centre, where it had been since 2010, to Horwich due to its rising popularity.

Celebrities including World's Strongest Man regular Mark Felix, and Britain's Strongest Man, Eddie "The Beast" Hall attended the two-day event at the new venue of the USN Bolton Arena at Middlebrook.

Eddie, who recently set a new world record by lifting a whopping 462kg (72.7 stones), said: "Being Britain's strongest man I get recognised everywhere I go. It's always good to be invited to events like this where I can meet people and shake the hands of athletes and sportsmen and women across the country. It's also nice to sit back and watch them break their backs for a change rather than me doing it.

"I train four hours a day doing weights and then I do an hour's cardio every other day. That includes pulling trucks, lifting atlas stones and benching up to 300 kilos. Then I spend the evening eating and recovering. It's great, but it's really hard work."

It was not just the men who took part in the gruelling rounds: Horwich's Vicki Benson, aged 28, showed what she is made of in the women's competition by coming third.

The mum-of-three, who also works as a trainer part time at Worthy Fitness Centre in Horwich, said: “It was fantastic although I was very nervous. I’m delighted to have come third — but I just want to do it all over again now.

"It is hard to juggle training between work and being a mum, but I think you just have to crack on and do it.

"I've been training now for about two and a half years, but power lifting for six months. I trained by lifting 40 kilo sandbags, pushing and pulling cars and deadlifts of 80 kilos."

Her trainer Chris Worthington, from Worthy Fitness Centre, said: "Vicki has become my right hand woman at the gym and to see her come to where she is now, it's quite emotional.

"The fact she can fit the training between working and being a mum to three young children is amazing. I'm really proud of her."

Andy Hibbert, aged 26, from Westhoughton, is already a champion power lifter. He is number four in Europe in his 110kg class and praised the event for “bringing more people in to enjoy the sport.”

Visitor Vicky Heaton, aged 39, brought her son Hardi Osman, aged eight, who met his hero Eddie Hall.

She said: "Hardi always says to me he wants to be a boxer and he loves the world strongman competitions. He went to watch one and it was brilliant so we thought we'd come here because we've never been before."

Organiser Andy Seddon, aged 39, has been involved in fitness since he was a youngster and was delighted with the success of the event.

He said: "We've moved up to the arena because we wanted to expand after the success of the event in Victoria Square. We wanted to have more sport and fitness challenges as well as the usual strongman lifting competitions, so this year we brought in martial arts and boxing to add another dimension to it."

USN Bolton Arena commercial manger Gwyn Hughes said the event had drawn powerlifting enthusiasts and supporters from far afield including Yorkshire, Lancaster and Wales.

He said: “It’s obviously a very knowledgeable crowd who appreciate the skills on show here. It’s been a fascinating event and we hope they can build on this in future years.”