EUROPEAN judges have given the UK a miserable gift wrapped up as good news.

A landmark ruling in an EU court over a sacked 25-stone Danish male childminder states that obesity can now be classed as a disability. This will apply even if the obesity is not caused by an illness or condition but simply by over-eating.

It means that British companies will have to make special concessions for overweight staff like extra-large furniture, medical advice or even exercise facilities.

This will not only put a huge financial burden on already hard-pressed British businesses but will probably result in the creation of a whole new area of litigation in this country. So expect cold-callers to start asking if you have ever had discrimination in the workplace due to your weight.

Sadly, it will also result in companies choosing not to employ overweight people, which already makes the move completely counter-productive.