A MAN from Pendle has gone from being 25 stone to just half that weight.

After four and a half years of sweat and tears, the remarkable achievement of Alwyn Beckles from Brierfield will be on billboards throughout Colne for all to see.

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The displays, which have adopted the motto ‘burgers and fries to half the size’, have been put up by Pendle Leisure Trust after Pendle Wavelengths helped Mr Beckles to go from 25 stone to just over 12.

Service engineer Mr Beckles has two young boys aged nine and six and said that if he wanted to see them grow up, he had to do something about his weight.

He said: “I started to lose weight about four and a half years ago when I was talked into getting active by my step-daughter.

“I did need to do something about it, I was in my early 40s with two young children and I knew that if I wanted to see them grow into adults and if I wanted to play with them outside like any normal dad, I needed to make a change.

“I suffered from high cholesterol and diabetes, both of which I took medication for, so I knew that if I carried on I could have serious health issues.

“I joined Slimming World before going to Pendle Wavelengths where a programme was devised for me to follow.

“I have been able to see the progress over time and I can now run on a treadmill for about 30 minutes.

“I’d say that if I can do it, anyone can.”

Also on the billboards is Tony Robinson from Colne, who has gone from scoffing burgers and bitter to never being fitter, and last month completed a gruelling 725 mile trek from Ben Nevis to Big Ben.

Mr Robinson, who joined Pendle Leisure in 2011, said: “To achieve a goal like this would have seemed impossible six years ago. Exercise has changed my life and I would like to thank family, friends and the team at Pendle Leisure Centre for helping me all the way on my fitness journey.”