SUPER slimmer Stuart Eggleshaw (43), who is featured in last month’s NewsJournal, has been named Slimming World’s Greatest Loser 2014 after shedding 22st 9lbs in 16 months.

Stuart, the scoreboard operator at Mansfield Town FC, was shocked into a regime of healthy eating and exercise with Slimming World’s Food Optimising healthy eating plan after a minor car crash left him wondering how paramedics would be able to treat him because of his 37st size.

After scooping the national title in London, Stuart, of Kirkby, said: “I was very apprehensive about walking into the group on that first night. I knew there’d probably be lots of women and not very many men, but everyone was friendly.

“I’ve had so much support from my consultant, Annette (Towle), and the rest of the group.”

Stuart, who now weighs around 14st, has seen his waist shrink from 70ins to 36ins, and lost 14ins from his collar measurement.

Stuart still attends his weekly Slimming World class with Annette at the Grosvenor Rooms, Sutton. She runs classes at Sutton at 3pm, 5pm and 7pm on Wednesdays. She also runs classes at Huthwaite All Saints’ Centre on Wednesdays at 9.30am and at the Scout building, South Normanton, on Thursdays at 9.15am and 11.15am.