A COLLECTION of the country’s strongest men are set to descend on Radcliffe this weekend.

The Lock Keeper pub, in Mill Bank, is inviting families to come and enjoy two days of powerful competition and entertainment.

On Saturday, the search will be on for the town’s top talent in the Radcliffe Strongest Warrior contest, an event which pub manager Graeme McCulloch has moved from the Southfields in Bolton.

That event will act as a warm-up for Sunday, when 20 of the UK’s best lifters will compete for the title of Britain’s Strongest under-105kg Man.

To accompany the competitions, the pub will be putting on a string of family fun events to keep visitors entertained and help raise money for Bolton Community Kitchen, which provides food, clothing and support for the homeless and vulnerable around the area.

Mr McCulloch said: “We used to hold the Bolton Strongest Warrior competition at the Southfields. We did that for three years but this was an opportunity to take it to a bigger venue.

“They have various events where they pull vans and small trucks, and so on. It’s all the kind of things you would see on a strongman competition on the TV.

“It will be free to come down and see the event for the public. There will be various things going on to keep families entertained throughout the day as well.

“The Hub gym has been absolutely great in helping us to put this event on. They have sponsored the T-shirts and donated equipment for it.

“They don’t have to help, but it is great to see when people are generous like this.

“There will be loads going on and this is set to be a really big day for us.”

Shane Burns, formerly the North-West’s strongest man, has organised the Saturday event and will be competing himself on the Sunday.

The 32-year-old, from Breightmet, said: “On Sunday, the top 20 people in Britain will be competing.

“There are some big names and it will be a high standard of competition.

“Training has been good and I feel alright going into it.

“It will all depend on what happens on the day once the adrenaline kicks in.

“Everything has gone to plan in training and hopefully I will be able to come away with a podium finish.

“We hope there will be a good crowd.

“It is something a bit different for families to come down and watch, and strongman competitions are always popular on the TV.”

The events run from 11am to 5pm.