An Accrington bodybuilder was really flexing his muscles after competing in the coveted Mr Universe contest.
Jason Elhasham, 30, of Owen Street, Accrington, went over to Germany for the contest where he fought off tough competition to finish in seventh place.
He said: "It was a real eye-opener. There was a lot of money at stake for whoever came first, 35,000 Euros, so it attracted some of the top people from around the world.
"I was really pleased to be invited to compete and it was a great achievement to be asked."
Jason previously won the overall Central Britain National Amateur Body Building Association (NABBA) title to earn the right to compete.
He said: "It is a physique and body building competition, so you are judged on things like body condition and your overall muscles, so you have to do poses and things like that when you are judged.
"But it’s not always the biggest guys who win, it is the ones who are the most balanced and symmetrical.
"There were some very big guys there at the contest. I am 15 and a half stone with just four per cent body fat, some of the Russians and Germans were really big."
He added: "It is a different kettle of fish when you compete abroad. I would like to think I am at the top of the UK, but abroad the standards are so much higher.
"Some of them have been doing it all their lives and the regimes they have are really intense.
"They also have things like sponsors to help them and it is just like being a professional athlete.
"I am currently working towards training for another contest in June which I am looking forward to."
Jason lives with his partner Carly Heap and his daughter Scarlett, who is three.
His brother and fellow body-builder Adam, 27, of Sefton Close, Accrington, came third in the overall north west NAABA.
