AN OVERWEIGHT dad lost three stone after walking 500 miles in eight weeks for a TV documentary.

Gary Baines, of Leigh Park, Hapton, stars in a three-part Channel Four show Too Big To Walk? which began last night.

The 22-stone 45-year-old accountant signed up to be part of the gruelling walk from Devon to Edinburgh after being told he had two years to live if he didn't change his lifestyle.

Gary and seven other obese people were chosen from 4,000 people to attempt the eight-week challenge.

He said: "I knew I should be doing something about my weight. My wife and daughters had been dragging me out for walks, so when I saw the advert I thought I'd send off."

Gary, who set off in July weighing 25-stone, was one of just four who completed the walk.

He said: "I was never going to give up. I was determined to do it, especially after the show's doctor told me I'd have a heart attack in two years if I didn't change my lifestyle. I'd never been told in such honest terms the bad state I was in.

"It was all down to too many lagers and never doing any exercise.

"I wanted to see my daughters grow up so something had to change."

He said being away from Zoe, seven, three-year-old Laura and his wife Margaret was the hardest part of the challenge.

"Don't get me wrong, it was physically tough but the emotional wrench of saying goodbye to the kids was harder."

Twenty family members and friends travelled up to Edinburgh for the finish, by which point Gary had lost three stone.

Gary said: "They were so proud of what I'd achieved. But it's only the beginning.

"The experience just reaffirmed what I knew I ought to be doing. There's no magic formula to losing weight. For me it's about cutting out the beer and doing more exercise.

"Since I've returned I'm walking during my lunch hour and spare time and only drinking on special occasions. I'm aiming to get down to 15 stone, slowly and sensibly."

Too Big To Walk? continues tonight and tomorrow, at 9.00pm.