A TRUCK-HAULING muscle man from Lower Darwen has a weighty aim in life -- to be named the world's strongest man.

Seventeen-stone former scaffolder Carl Wallbank became hooked on strongman events five years ago after watching The World's Strongest Man on television.

Now Carl, who names former world strongman Geoff Capes as his hero, has his own sights set on the world title.

"That's why I started it really, to be the world's strongest man," said Carl, 24. "I got into it and just found it interested me. I compete all over England and I've made some good friends."

For the last three years he has taken part in the UK Strongman competition and when he was 19 he narrowly missed out on breaking the world record for holding two 12.5kg axes at arm's length.

"I held them for 48 seconds. I missed the record by a second," said Carl.

On Thursday he is putting his weight behind a truck-pulling stunt to raise money for Children In Need. The fund-raising event takes place in Edinburgh and will be filmed by the BBC. Programme-makers contacted him after watching him pull a seven-tonne truck 50 metres at the Globe Centre, Accrington, last year.

He plans to repeat the performance this week with a truck loaned from Asda in Blackburn.

When he is in action Carl gets into a special harness which goes over his shoulders and around his waist and attaches to the truck. On his feet he wears climbing shoes to get a good grip on ground.

"I've pulled a seven-and-a-half tonne truck but I think I could manage 10 tonnes" said Carl, who lives with his parents at Fore Street, Lower Darwen.

"You've just got to concentrate on your technique and keep it going. In a few years I'd like to have a go at pulling a plane."

To keep himself in shape Carl works out in his gym at home four times a week and trains by carrying cylinders weighing 230lbs and beer barrels filled with sand and water.

To keep his strength up, he stocks up on carbohydrates by eating six meals a day.

Just 11 stone when he started, he has since put on six stone -- all in muscle.

But he says he still has a way to go before he starts competing in the world championships.

He said: "I reckon that's about five years off but I'll keep at it. It's a great thing to do. WHAT CARL EATS IN ONE DAY

7am: A big bowl of porridge with milk.

12 noon: A large plate of pasta with chicken soup and six pieces of bread.

5pm: A second plate of pasta with vegetable soup and six pieces of bread.

7pm: An omelette made from six eggs and a block of cheese.

8pm: More pasta, this time with tomato sauce and six pieces of bread.

10pm: A second bowl of porridge.