A SINGER from North Yorkshire is leading a double life.

By night, Gemma Taylor, 20, earns her living singing in pubs and clubs.

By day, she is training to enter the Britain's Strongest Woman competition.

Gemma is being trained by strongman experts, including former Mr Universe Eddy Ellwoods, to prepare her for the gruelling challenges that lie ahead.

In the competition on May 31, she will attempt to pull a 7.5 tonne truck, run 50 metres carrying 65kg (10.2 stone) weights in each hand, lift a 65kg weight above her head as many times as she can, flip a 230kg (36.2 stone) tyre ten times, and carry six 75kg (11.8 stone) 'atlas stone' boulders to a wall.

Although Gemma has been a keen supporter of strongman competitions since she was small, she only started training in a gym six months ago, in an attempt to slim down for her singing career.

Since then, she has put on two and a half stone in muscle weight.

Gemma, from Thirsk, said she decided to enter the competition after flipping a heavy tyre for the first time with friends of her boyfriend, who is also in training for the Britain's Strongest Man competition.

Gemma, who now trains for up to three hours five times a week, said: "I am very excited about the competition, but I am very nervous as well."

But she paid tribute to her personal trainer, her best friend Paul, saying she would never have decided to enter the competition without his support.

Updated: 08:22 Thursday, April 22, 2004