A 23-STONE Leominster man has decided to start shedding pounds of flab for better health and to gather pounds of the other kind - lots of ££££ - for a good cause.

Graham Bridge's sponsored slim aims to raise cash for Leominster Age Concern's busy advice service in West Street, where he is a trading and information officer.

Manager Helen Clarke is delighted with his initiative, which will focus public attention on the service as well as raising much-needed funds.

"Three (very) part-time staff and two volunteers dealt with over 4,000 inquiries last year and, so far, in the current financial year we have dealt with over 6,000," said Helen.

"People seek our help over about benefits, problems with utilities and other things. They come in with a problem and we don't let them go until we have sorted it out.

"We are open every weekday but our funding is very precarious, so Graham's sponsored slim is absolutely brilliant."

Graham says he wants to lose his "unhealthy" flab because he was recently diagnosed as having diabetes. He is facing a tough challenge because of his lifestyle, he admits.

"I cook all my own meals, love a good fry up and I love to eat sweets, biscuits, crisps and cream cakes," he said.

"I hate exercise but I will try to get to the gym at least four times a week."

He hopes to lose seven stone eventually but in the next three months he plans to shed two to three stones.

"To lose seven stones will probably take the best part of a year," said Graham. "Doctors recommend that people should lose between two to three pounds a week. So over the 13 weeks of the sponsored slim I should lose between 26 to 39 pounds."

He can be sponsored 'by the pound' or for his overall effort. Names can be added to Graham's sponsorship forms at Age Concern, West Street.