A SELF-employed photographer is now a picture of health after shedding six stone before his granddaughter’s birth.

Peter Anslow’s daughter, Kerry, was concerned her baby-to-be might grow up without a grandad if he didn’t mend his ways.

But not only was the 51-year-old able to walk Kerry down the aisle as she married Steven Seddon, at St John’s Church, in Higham, he can now dote on their child, Amber, with renewed energy.

Peter, from Trawden, has been named ‘Man of the Year’ by his Slimming World group, based at Burnley FC, and is now in the running for the organisation’s national honours.

Weighing in at 20-and-a-half stone, he had tried a number of diets, after Kerry’s prompting, but never quite hit on the right one.

He said: “I hated being overweight and tried a diet cutting out carbs. I’d always thought that slimming groups were just for women, but it was clear ‘going it alone’ didn’t work for me and I needed some extra motivation.

“The final straw came when Kerry admitted she was really worried about my health. She had a baby on the way and couldn’t bear to think of her child growing up without a grandad.”

Kerry joined Slimming World first and Peter followed, enrolling on a food optimising eating plan, which enabled him to still eat hearty meals, but prepared in a healthier way.

The support of Kerry and wife, Angela, helped him drop to 14-and-a-half stone and lose 12 inches off his waist. His GP has also been encouraged by his efforts.

Caroline Griffiths, his slimming instructor, said: “Peter is proof that men can benefit from the support to eat more healthily and get more active, as much as women. He’s a real inspiration.”

If Peter wins the national finals he could be in line for a £3,000 prize, or a trip to Cuba.