A SINGLE dad-of-two from Buckley is hoping to inspire others to pursue a clean and healthy lifestyle by sharing his story of a life-changing decision.

Lee Burton, 46, told the Leader he was expelled from school at 15 and faced going down the “wrong track” in life.

“My mum Janet died when I was eight,” he said.

“Growing up in a male dominated environment was hard.

“I was arrested in school for fighting and then I was expelled.

The Leader:

Lee Burton. All images provided by Lee Burton

“I was in trouble and I was starting to get on the wrong track.

“But then I joined the gym and started training.”

And this decision made a huge difference for Mr Burton, who is now an accomplished bodybuilder.

“I have trained solidly ever since,” he said.

“I was always more into physical education than other learning, so I was more or less brought up in the gyms and spent all my time bodybuilding.

The Leader:

Lee Burton with son Kane and daughter Leanne after qualifying for Perth

“I developed good discipline, which I took out and applied in the big wide world.

“I was spotted and got an adult apprenticeship when I was in my 20s, which was four years of mechanical engineering, two years of electrical engineering and two years of engineering project management.”

Mr Burton is now a shift engineer at Ardagh in Deeside. The firm makes cans which are used all over the world.

But he continues to train hard and last year decided to enter his first competition.

He explained: “I am a tested athlete with the BNBF (British Natural Bodybuilding Federation).

The Leader:

“I am tested for performance enhancing drugs and banned substances through urinalysis and polygraph tests - there are even certain painkillers and flu tablets I can’t take.

“Last year I thought ‘you know what? My discipline has to be worth something’ - so I entered the BNBF and qualified in Manchester, becoming the northern master.

“After qualifying there I went to Perth in Scotland to go up against the seven masters from around the country. I placed forth and it was only my first year doing it.

“I am looking to compete again in the summer to try and qualify for Perth again to see if I can get closer to the number one spot for Britain.

“If I do, I could go to compete in Miami against bodybuilders from all over the world.”

The Leader:

Mr Burton, who has two children, Leanne (20) and Kane (16), said he trains twice a day, six days a week, and eats strictly portioned wholesome food.

He now hopes to inspire others to pursue a clean and healthy lifestyle, particularly youngsters who may be in difficult circumstances.

“I wasn’t so lucky growing up - losing my mum at 8 and then my dad when I was 19,” he explained.

“I didn’t have an education, and that was my choice. But now I have a job and I live a good, clean life.

“If there are kids or other people out there going through things, my message would be to become strong and clean - don’t be influenced by the dark side of life.

“Study hard, train hard and take that discipline into your work.

“The biggest trophy I could ever lift is knowing that I can be a good influence on even one person.”

Mr Burton is now sponsored by I.G Electrical and PNW Roofing LTD as well as the following gyms: Iron Asylum in Mold, Probody in Buckley, Flex Strength in Flint and Dedicated 24/7 in Huyton, Liverpool.