MORBIDLY obese Tony Roberts was told he could not get weight-loss surgery on the NHS unless he went on a diet.

So the 25-stone grandfather-of-two has embarked on a sponsored slim in aid of the Oxford Heart Centre.

Mr Roberts, an information officer at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, said his weight problem escalated when he was diagnosed with a thyroid problem and diabetes seven years ago.

Mr Roberts, 52, from Grimsbury, Banbury, wants to have gastric band surgery.

To be eligible for the operation on the NHS in Oxfordshire, patients have to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 50 and an underlying health problem, such as diabetes.

But, despite having a BMI of 51 and diabetes, Mr Roberts was told he could not have the treatment until he had shown he was committed to tackling his weight himself.

He said: “It felt bizarre being told to lose weight just so I could have the surgery. But then I thought it was time to stop making excuses.”

Mr Roberts has joined slimming group Weight- Watchers and has set himself the goal of losing four stone over the next six months.