SWINDON strongmen proved that two sets of muscles are better than one as they pulled a pair of trucks for a good cause.

Don Bryden, 46, of Stratton and newly crowned Europe’s strongest man Laurence Shahlaei, 33, of Sparcells, showed their superhuman strength to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation and BEST (Bryden’s Endangered Species Trust).

They dragged two enormous MAN trucks weighing in at an impressive 16 tonnes for a distance of 25m in the hopes of raising thousands for the charities.

And if that wasn’t nerve-wracking enough a live audience assembled at Tesco, Ocotal Way to watch every agonising step of the Man Vs Machine challenge.

Don, who is managing director at Staffright Associates and a seasoned charity fundraiser, only started truck pulling three years ago and can often be seen out pulling his car as part of his training regime.

He previously proved his strongman credentials when he dragged a ten tonne truck in 2014.

“I was ecstatic, I was emotional, it was the biggest adrenaline rush I have ever had,” said Don of crossing the finish line.

“The hardest part is when the lactic acid goes into your legs and they feel like they’re about to blow up. I may be 46 but I wanted to prove that I could still do it.”

The pair had to battle the famously British weather to successfully get the enormous trucks moving.

“Because the ground was so wet there was absolutely no traction and our legs, which we had been training so hard weren’t much help,” said Don.

“We had to change our game plan completely and use our upper body. It was a struggle but such a great feeling when we crossed the line."

Don, who was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, before moving to Swindon in 2000, is married to Sarah, 45, and has three children Kristen, 23, Christopher, 18 and Jessica, 11.

His charitable trust BEST has been working to stop rhino poaching in South Africa and both Don and Laurence will visit the country in September

“We want to raise awareness about endangered animals, such as rhinos which are targeted for their horns. It has to stop,” said Don.

Truck-pulling veteran Laurence - who estimates he has pulled at least 80 trucks and five aeroplanes- was cheered on by mum Christine, fiancé Liz Mason and children Lewis and Ava, both seven.

He said he was delighted for Don.

“I’ve been doing this a long time so I wasn’t too worried, I just wanted to make sure Don was all right, I think we did a great job working as a team," said Laurence.

“Don was amazing because he hasn’t been training that long and we really worked well as a team. This is what I do but Don isn’t a strongman and he still smashed it. I’m very proud.

“The crowd were going wild, we had so much support from the town.”

Laurence, whose Strongman odyssey began in 2005, will fly the flag for Swindon next month when he jets to Botswana for the World’s Strongest Man competition.