A GWENT powerlifter is to come out of retirement for a charity truck-pull after a friend was diagnosed with cancer.

Mike Williams, 46 is gearing his body up for the super-strength challenge, pulling a 16-tonne truck for 100 metres at Abercarn Scout hut on December 3.

His colleague Linda Terrell is Scout leader there, and asked whether he would do one more fundraiser to support the group and the Velindre cancer appeal.

Last year the 60-year-old found a lump below one of her ears, and on the advice of her dentist had it checked out.

Doctors removed a saliva duct and found it contained cancerous cells, which meant Mrs Terrell having six weeks of radiotherapy.

The mum of two goes for check-ups every six months.

She said: “When Mike offered to do this truck pull, I nearly snatched off his hand!”

Mr Williams, who in 1995 finished third in the world in his category, is currently fuelling himself with thousands of calories.

A day’s intake consists of muesli, twelve scrambled eggs, three protein drinks, and small meals of chicken and rice, mackerel, salad, jacket potato and fruit, to give him enough energy to train hard at Everybody’s Gym, Rogerstone.

The forklift truck driver, who has pulled trucks and double decker buses for more than 20 years, is adamant this will be his last, after raising more than £35,000 for cancer research, following the death of both his parents from the disease.

“If I have stopped just one person dying from cancer, I have achieved my goal,” he added.