A SUPER slimmer shed seven stone after his doctor told him he would not see his next birthday.

Anthony Billington, 60, took 12 months to go from 19 stone to 12 stone, shrinking his waist from 50 to 38 inches.

He now said more men should join slimming clubs after advice and support from others helped him beat a 35-year battle with his weight in 12 months.

The former engineer from Blackburn, who is 5ft 8in, said in recent years he needed a mobility scooter as short distances left him out of breath.

He was at a high risk of heart attacks and strokes. High blood pressure and cholestoerol also caused nose bleeds, dizzy spells and fainting.

He said: “The doctor made no bones about it, he basically said: ‘Change your lifestyle or buy yourself a coffin’.

“Even after that warning I wasn’t making very much progress on my own. My wife’s friend went to Slimming World and they told me I was being taken out for the night – without telling me where. I ended up at a Slimming World class and the rest is history.”

At Simming World he has won 24 awards after giving up his favourite meal of fried chicken from fast food takeaways and he no longer drinks.

Slimming World leader Janet Brown, oversees the Church and Oswaldtwistle Cricket Club group Anthony belongs to.

She said: “He’s been overweight for years but it just shows you it’s never too late.”