Didcot's Martin Green struck gold in the World Bench Press Championships in Italy.

Competing in the 90k class at Como, Green produced the winning lift of 195k in the first round.

He then had two cracks at equalling his own European record of 202.5k, but was unsuccessful.

However, his opening lift was still enough to give him a resounding victory - with the runner-up from Italy posting 175k - and the best lifter award at the competition.

Green, a member of the Flex Gym in Newbury, said: "I was expecting to get more than my European record because in training I have been doing 207.5k.

"But I didn't lift until about nine o'clock in the evening, so I had been there for 12 hours just sitting around and waiting which didn't help.

"I also wear a support which split in training and I had to wear an old one which didn't give me any support at all to be honest."

Green, an IT engineer at Vodafone in Newbury, is keen to attract sponsorship. He can be contacted on 01235 210670.