Roy and Kate Glencross, of The Maples, Fleet Hargate, are so fed up with not being able to enjoy leisure activities with their eight grandchildren despite years of dieting that they decided their best hope of losing the weight was surgery.

There are also serious health concerns for them as retired firefighter Roy (60) weighs 24 stone and is in need of replacement knees but cannot be considered for treatment until he loses at least seven stone.


At 5ft 3in, Kate is 18st 6lb and has blood pressure so high she needs 13 pills a day to keep it under control.


Roy said the couple are looking forward to the operation, which they will have at Peterborough District Hospital on June 10, costing the NHS £24,000.


He said: "I have been on a diet for 15 years. I have tried them all, Atkins, Cambridge, but none has worked.


"Weight would come off, but as soon as I stopped, it would pile back on.
"This is not a quick fix. It's not something we have taken lightly. We have been waiting two and a half years."


Roy went to see a specialist at Peterborough three years ago who recommended either a gastric band or a gastric bypass.


The surgery involves reducing the size of the stomach by creating a pouch in the upper stomach using surgical staples, then removing part of the small intestine so they will only be able to eat small meals.


The couple could have gone abroad for the operations but want to make sure the aftercare and outcome is right.


Roy hopes to shed six or seven stone while Kate wants to lose four.
Roy said: "Once it is done, there is no way you can go back. Everybody seems surprised by what we are doing.


"We have agreed from day one that we would do it together. It makes sense to do it at the same time."


"Some of the comments made have been hurtful. Just because we are obese we are seen to be fair game.


"We have never given up trying to lose weight."