SUPER slimmer Phil Eccleshare is celebrating success after losing a massive nine and a half stone in weight.

Just 18 months ago the 34- year-old dental technician weighed almost 33 stone but in that time he managed to get down to just over 23 stone — and he is still losing.

“I am hoping by Christmas I will have lost all the weight I want to lose,” said Mr Eccleshare, who lives with his parents in Bromley Cross.

Evenings spent at the pub with pals, and takeaways as a regular treat, were his downfall, but now Mr Eccleshare says a healthy diet and exercise have put him firmly on the right track.

Problems started when he left Turton High School to begin work.

He said: “I used to play football and when I stopped playing the weight started to pile on.

“I went downhill from there and I just didn’t know what to do about it.”

It was only when his mum, Viv, suggested they both went to the Slimming World club at Canon Slade School that Mr Eccleshare finally decided it was time to take action.

“I was worried about walking into a class of women and the first time was quite daunting. I am just so glad I did it now though,”

he said.

Rather than shy away from company Mr Eccleshare now enjoys spending time with friends — although nights at the pub are limited — and he has even started helping out at matches with Old Boltonians football club, with his brother, Steven.

“My aim is to play football again,” he said.

Mr Eccleshare has not set himself a target weight, preferring to just wait and see how the weight loss goes.

He has lost the equivalent of an average-sized woman.

Slimming World leader Alex Hayes said: “We are always joking Phil has lost a Kirsty as one of our members, Kirsty Thompson, now weighs nine and a half stone.

”I just hope his story will encourage other men to come along.”