Care home residents across Scotland are in training for 'Scotland's Strongest Pensioner Championships' today. 

Residents with Renaissance Care wanted to put a twist on the World's Strongest Man Championships. 

Participating residents are training in the famous vehicle pull, car lift, the Hercules Hold and a variety of deadlifting challenges in hopes of being crowned the winner amongst their competitors across the care home group.

Renaissance Care pensioners are now in preparation to take each other on in separate men and women’s categories, hoping to be crowned Scotland’s first ‘Strongest Pensioner’.

Care home staff have invested in equipment to help the residents train including weight belts and dumbbells, and have even reserved the home’s mini-vans for practicing the Vehicle Pull – one of the competition’s most challenging events.

Taking part in the competition is 99-year-old April Sloof.

She said: “Those who say they aren’t in this for the glory are lying. I have set my sights on being Scotland’s Strongest Pensioner in the women’s category and won’t stop until I get there, no matter what.

“My mini-van pull technique has been improving every day and I’ll continue to work on that as well as my stamina in the Hercules Hold – it’s all about the gains.

"Maybe one day, I’ll be able to pull it along with all of my grandkids inside.”

Care home resident, Jo King, 96, said: “This competition is more about mental power and technique than it is brute strength.

"Muscles I have, but pushing through mentally when the pressure is on mid-competition? That’s when we’re really tested.

“I’m disappointed there’s no Fridge Lift this year as I’ve been working on my tactics for a while, but I’m hoping that will be introduced for next year’s event.”

Care home manager, Vera Funnai, said: “We have a great schedule of activities to improve the health and fitness of our residents throughout the year, and this is the ultimate challenge.

“I have complete faith in our ‘Scotland’s Strongest Pensioner’ participants, and I look forward to crowning the winner later this month.”