MARK Felix will compete in his third World's Strongest Man competition when he jets out to China next week.

The Great Harwood-based strongman reached his latest finals after qualifying through the Poland Super Series last month.

The 40-year-old finished in fifth place in Poland - only the top four should have qualified automatically - but booked his place to China as winner Marius Pudzianski had already reached the finals.

But Mark was in fine form in Poland beating Pudsianski, the current World's Strongest Man, in the Stones of Strength and Dead Lift and was second in the Farmers event.

Felix, who swapped Grenada for Great Harwood eight years ago, has already won the Callendar Highland Games strongest man competition and the Cannock chase strongest man in recent months.

His wife Denny said: "Mark is in fine form this year and he is in confident mood ahead of the World's Strongest Man event. The format has changed slightly and it includes all of his favourite events.

"So that can only work in his advantage and it will all be about how well he does on the day."

Mark, a self-employed plasterer, has failed to reach the latter stages of the World's Strongest Man in his two previous attempts but Denny is confident he can make it third time lucky.

"The whole event goes on for about two weeks as there a number of qualifying rounds before it gets to the stages which are usually screened on TV. Denny has missed out in the past but he is hopeful he can go further this time around."

Last year, he took part in the World's Strongest Man competition in Quebec and the Pan American event in Brazil. He was also crowned British champion and recently took part in this year's British Strongest Man on the Isle of Man, the results of which will be screened in October.