A mum-of-two has been crowned Britain's third strongest woman, despite undergoing an operation just five months ago.

Andrea Thompson, travelled to Doncaster in September to compete at Britain's Strongest Woman in front of 2,000 people.

The apprenticeship assessor at Suffolk New College in Ipswich, came up against 13 of the strongest in the country, and came third.

But it was touch and go as to whether she would be able to compete at the tournament, after suffering a serious injury at the Suffolk Show just a few months prior.

Ipswich Star: Andrea with Arnold SchwarzeneggerAndrea with Arnold Schwarzenegger (Image: Andrea Thompson)

The Melton resident said: "I saw someone trying to flip a tyre at the Suffolk Show and said to my daughter that I could do better, I was showing off a little bit.

"Then when I tried to pick the tyre up, I heard a tremendous noise and realised something was wrong."

Andrea had torn a bicep and had to have an operation within a week of sustaining the injury.

She continued: "I was told I wasn't going to be able to compete again this year by my coach, but I was determined to prove them wrong.

"Ultimately, I was happy to come third.

Ipswich Star: Andrea Thompson works at Suffolk New College in IpswichAndrea Thompson works at Suffolk New College in Ipswich (Image: Suffolk New College)

"I always go into a competition thinking I'm going to win, but after my injury problems, I set a target of finishing fourth.

"I got quite emotional when I realised where I'd come."

She is now preparing herself for the World's Strongest Nation in Liverpool, where top performing athletes from the UK and USA compete against each other to see which country finishes on top.

Andrea, who holds two Guinness World Records, has her eyes firmly set on the World's Strongest Woman competition that will take place in West Virginia in December, where she is hoping to meet her idol Arnold Schwarzenegger, who she has already met a few times.