Whaplode father-of-three Paul Farmer (40) has made a dramatic weight loss through the LighterLife scheme so he can have an operation for crippling back problems, which started 20 years ago.

Mr Farmer now weighs 13st 6lbs, having started in November at 18st 6lbs, but still intends to lose two more stone.

Mr Farmer is allowed two milkshakes or soups a day with two chewy bars and around five litres of water.

Mr Farmer, of Main Road, would rather spend £66 a week on the diet than resort to measures taken by Roy and Kate Glencross, who featured on the front page of the Spalding Guardian.

They are having gastric bypass operations costing the NHS £24,000 after years of trying to lose weight.

Mr Farmer, who lives with wife Laura and daughters Crystal, Tara and Simone, said: "If they have been trying for 15 years like they say I'm surprised they haven't come across this diet.

"I can ill afford it but I bet they can afford it more than me.

"It's hard but I have got the full backing of my family. When they have tea I go for a bath because it's not very nice while they are eating to see me eating a chewy bar."

Mr Farmer has severe mobility problems and needs to use a stick or wheelchair.

His back troubles began after an industrial accident when he was working as a building contractor.

After years of taking pills to cope with the pain his back eventually gave way and he needs surgery to remove several discs.

The surgery in Lincoln would restore his back using metal rods, but is dependent on him losing more weight.

Mr Farmer added: "People have this misconception that fat people are munchers. I'm not. I'm just immobile.

"It's unlikely the surgery would make me totally pain-free but it would get me off my morphine patches."