Biker wins slimming title

Graham Clough can now fit on his dream machine

A motorcyclist from Greater Manchester who was once too fat to ride anything other than a 50cc moped has been awarded a "Slimmer of the Year" title.

Graham Clough, a self-confessed "greedy bugger" from Stockport, lost six-and-a-half stone in nine months.

He was given the accolade, along with a cheque for £1,500, by Slimming World magazine.

Mr Clough before and after his diet

High blood pressure and his GP forced him into action and he has since achieved his lifelong dream of owning a 1100cc VT Honda Shadow.

Mr Clough, 49, said: "On life-preserving medication, I knew the time had come to do something about it.

"I love motorbikes but because I was so big I literally could not get my leg over the saddle of a proper bike.

"I never really thought I had a weight problem ... I had been told I looked like Richard Gere," he added.

When Mr Clough went to see his doctor, he was told he was heading for a heart attack.

The transport manager's average diet on a Sunday consisted of eight sausages covered in cheese, four rounds of toast, a full cooked breakfast, a cooked lunch and three suppers.

The slimmer was given a cheque for £1,500

Although he once weighed 20 stone, he can now climb onto a bicycle, which he sometimes swaps for his motorbike.

Last January Mr Clough flew to Australia for a family wedding and said he found the long flight very uncomfortable because he was so big.

On the morning of the wedding, he found he could not fit into his suit, which had a 54-inch waist.

Mr Clough joined Slimming World and with the help of his friends in the class lost the weight without giving up the foods he loved.

He said: "I used to be a greedy bugger and could eat for England, but the great thing is I lost the weight by eating the same things but just more sensibly."