It was when theme park staff stopped Steven Little getting on a Harry Potter ride that he realised it was time to tackle his weight problem.

Mr Little, a fishmonger from Norwich, was 'gutted' when he was denied entry to a ride in the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando, USA, earlier this year due to his 21-stone (133kg) body.

But since then the 32-year old, who lives in Old Catton, has shed stone after stone thanks to a determined slimming campaign, which has seen him reduce his weight to a healthy 14.5-stone (92kg).

'Up to that point I had just ignored my weight,' Mr Little said.

'I had struggled with my weight since I was ten years old, and my eating habits had got worse the older I got.

'I ate takeaways, constantly snacked, and I ate because I wasn't happy - and I wasn't happy because I kept eating.'

After being turned down for the Harry Potter ride Mr Little joined a Slimming World group.

He improved his diet, but was still able to eat the foods he loved, such as steak, burgers, and chips.

Mr Little, who works for Cromer-based Gourmet Shellfish, also joined Bannatynes, his local gym, where he worked out up to five days per week.

Now he has abandoned his XXL tops and 42-inch trousers. and said he is in the best form of his life.

'I feel I have got much more energy,' he said.

'I used to just work and then not do anything when I got home because I felt like I had no time, but now I feel I have time because I have more energy.' Mr Little is now keen to show other people how they can lose weight, and he has become Slimming World's first male consultant in Norwich - where new classes will be held from next year. His first class starts on January 4 at Wensum Junior School at 7.30pm.

For more information call Mr Little on 07585 702854. H

Have you got a health story? Email nicholas.carding@archant.co.uk