A HAMPSHIRE woman has become a British bodybuilding champion aged 48.

At just 5ft and weighing seven and a half stone, former PA Marina Cornwall of Bournemouth Road, Chandler's Ford, has been busy breaking all stereotypes surrounding female bodybuilders.

At an age when many people may start to consider hanging up the gym trainers, Marina is going from strength to strength - she now hopes to become world champion.

In the British Amateur and Natural Bodybuilding Championships held in Cambridge earlier this month, Marina won her under 55kg class, beating six contestants.

She was then put up against the winner of the heavyweight category for the overall British title.

Judged on poise, appearance, symmetry and a one-minute routine set to music, Marina was awarded the national title beating her 6ft and three stone heavier competitor.

She said: "I weighed in at 44kg, 11kg below the limit and I thought that was going to go against me.

"It shows it's about your condition and not about your size."

Marina, a self-employed personal trainer working out of Fitness First in Shirley, Southampton, only turned to bodybuilding two years ago.

Before that she competed in Ultrafit competitions for seven years.

She said: "I've always been involved in sport since school.

"In 1993 I was approached in my local gym to enter an Ultrafit competition, where competitors do a number of fitness routines.

"I became national champion but I used to pick up a lot of injuries so I turned to bodybuilding."

Training up to six times a week, Marina, who is single, can bench press 60kg and lift 100kg. On November 16, she will be competing for the Muscle Mania world bodybuilding title in Guadalope, French Caribbean, paid for by winning the British title.

She said: "When you have to run a business as well it's difficult to fit it all in but it is all about motivation.

"I like to win for my clients because then they know they are being trained by the best.

"I don't put them through anything I have not already been through."

Marina is now looking for sponsorship to enable her to challenge for the world title.

She added: "Companies tend to sponsor the male athletes - it is harder to get sponsorship as a female bodybuilder."