Readership may be soaring and the paper on a high, but Oxford Mail editor Chris Cowley reached new levels when he was hoisted on a bed of nails above a gasping crowd by strongman John Evans.

"He's the only man in the world who can do this," the compere kept repeating as John created a new unofficial world record, balancing 402 cans of cola on his head.

But the reminders were unnecessary: no-one in the amazed crowd could imagine two people in the world with such a bizarre talent.

Compere Sean Shannon, himself a record-holder as the world's fastest talker, kicked off proceedings at the Templars Square shopping centre in Cowley.

To the musical strains of Queen and Tina Turner, 24-stone John, who has a 24in neck and a 60in chest, strutted his stuff.

After signing autographs, the 51-year-old, who has one glass eye after his brother accidentally shot him with an air rifle when he was seven, put his trusty hat on and did some warm-up exercises - such as carrying 20 milk crates on his head. Volunteers from the audience were then balanced on chairs on his head, followed by a totem pole, a 350lb model of the Eiffel tower and a working kit car weighing 25 stone.

With muscles barely straining, he lifted and lowered each object as if he were lifting a bag of sugar.

Then it was the turn of the Oxford Mail's very own Chris Cowley who was made to sit on a bed of nails on a chair and then hoisted on to John's head.

Asked if it was comfortable, Mr Cowley, his modest 14 stone perched on the nails, gave a resounding "No". Asked how he felt, he said: "Holey."

But then it was time for the serious lifting to start and the crowd watched in awe as John lifted first a fridge and then, by way of a warm-up, 350 cans of cola.

After a few minutes of preparation, he finally lifted the 402 cans - weighing 368lb - high above his head for the required count of ten seconds.

Afterwards, he said: "I feel fantastic. It was not an easy record to break. It was very delicate to lift. I could feel the whole thing springing about. That was the hardest part.

"The most delicate thing is putting them on and taking them off," he added.

John, a dad-of-two who lives in Derbyshire, already holds 17 world records for balancing a variety of objects on his bonce, including 548 footballs and 101 house bricks.

He discovered he could balance heavy items when he was a teenage builder and had to carry bricks on a hod.

He discovered he could carry twice as many bricks as the other builders but did not know how to use his talent.

Then one day he saw Geoff Capes break a world record carrying a row of bricks and thought he could do better.

Story date: Monday 22 February

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