Powerlifting BILL West rolled back the years to smash eight world records at the UK Powerlifting Championships at the weekend.

The Salisbury painter and decorator, who retired from competitive lifting two years ago after securing his 12th world title, defied his 56 years to win the 110kg class at the event staged in South Wales.

He received a standing ovation as he booked his trip to this year's World Championships in Helsinki by registering an extraordinary lifting total of 855kg.

West had opened the event in Port Talbot by setting a new world record squat of 300kg.

But that record lasted only a matter of minutes as he nudged it up to 330kg before closing with an im-pressive lift of 350kg.

His second bench press, after opening on 185kg, was also a world beater while his third took the record to 205kg - a personal best bench press.

He continued to re-write the record books. His opening deadlift was a record-breaker and the 200kg lift ensured a new world best total.

But the legend still had not quite finished, and his success in lifting 300kg registered a remarkable total of 855kg.