The Groominator needs YOUR support to get to the world's biggest strongman competition

Shane Burns is currently in training for the Arnold Sports Festival USA, in Columbus, Ohio.

He has been hard at work getting ready for the event after he qualified in the under 105kg category last year.

Shane is known as the Groominator because when he is not lifting and pulling heavy objects he works as a mobile dog groomer.

His flights to the United States and some hotels are booked but he still needs to book internal flights and other accommodation for the trip.

The event runs from March 1 until March 4 and Shane is heading out at the end of February.

He said: "I'm just looking for some sponsorship or some funding from local businesses.

"With me being a local Bolton lad, I don't think anyone from the town has competed at that level and got to the Arnold.

"It would just be good to get some support from the town."

'The Arnold' sees 18,000 athletes from across 80 countries competing in 70 sports and events and the man himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is expected to be there to see what the competitors have to offer.

Shane has only been taking part in competitive strongman events since 2011 and won Bolton Strongman last year.

The 33-year-old from Breightmet said: "It is going well. I feel brilliant. This is the best I have felt in a long time. My diet and my nutrition is going to plan and I am training twice a day."

A new Netflix documentary called Born Strong was released recently and followed a some of the world's most famous strongmen at the Ohio event in 2016.

Shane said: "I was thinking in five or six weeks I am going to be there.

"It made me realise how big it is.

"I am going to give it my all and hopefully come home with a trophy."

Shane is going to use his Instagram account and Snapchat to blog his time over in America so people at home can share in his journey.

If you are interested in sponsoring Shane, contact him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/shane.burns.54