A third-generation Frome farmer James Arney has been shortlisted in a competition to find the fittest farmer in the UK by the magazine Farmers' Weekly.

Twenty Five year old James is from Langham Farm, Rode, working a dairy unit rearing heifers and keeps a small flock of his own ewes.

His farming keeps him in good shape, but he enjoys hitting the gym and playing cricket and football, too.

"Fitness is the main way of managing my mental health," he explains. "Farming is a 24/7 job and can often control your life, so having time off is a great way of relaxing.

"Living and working at home can be stressful, so managing time off is crucial and something I push for as the youngest partner in the business."

The judges picked ten men and ten women based on their online applications and performance at the qualifier weekend on 26 and 27 September.

This year's finalists include a Welsh dairy farmer, a deer stockman in Lincolnshire, a beef farmer from Northern Ireland and a Devon-based shearer – all vying for the Britain's Fittest Farmer title and the £1,000 cash prize.

Each finalist will take part in a round of interviews before heading to Farm Fitness in Essex for the final showdown on 17 October.