THE beer and junk food have had to be binned as two friends aim to lose three stone in as many months to raise funds for a children’s home in Thailand.

It will be a mammoth challenge for singer Mike Skilbeck and Vince Ballard, who runs the Marr’s Bars’ jam night, as they lose the weight to raise funds for the Stratton ABC Foundation.

But it was definitely not music to their ears when dietician and personal trainer Karen Bell told the pair that they would have to give up their favourite treats if they had any chance of losing the weight.

Mr Skilbeck, from Warndon, said that it was going to be tough going.

The 32-year-old said: “Karen has given us a proper diet plan. Vince likes a drink when he is doing the jam night but he has had to give up the beer and I have had to give up the junk food so crisps and all the nice things have had to go.

“But if we can achieve this then we might possibly try and keep it up.

“At the moment there is a little competition going on between me and Vince so we are pushing each other to keep going but it has only been going a week so far.”

At their first weigh-in at the Marr’s Bar Mr Skilbeck tipped the scales at 18 stone six pounds while Mr Ballard, aged 50 and from Blackpole, weighed in at 18 stone 11 pounds.

They took on the challenge after Mr Ballard’s school friend John Cope said he was hoping to build 10 new rooms at the children’s home he runs at Chompoo, Saraphi in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Mr Cope, originally from Worcester, moved to the country to set up the charity and is now hoping to expand with the help of donations. Mr Skilbeck and Mr Ballard will take part in weekly weigh-ins every Wednesday at the music bar in Pierpoint Street and have also secured a discounted three month membership at Worcester Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre, Sansome Walk.

Mr Skilbeck said: “With the help of Karen, the use of the gym and pool, plus the training we are doing, we should be on target. We’ve been told we need to burn around 1,800 calories per day to achieve a weekly weight loss of four pounds so it is going to be tough.”

There will be a final weigh- in at the Marr’s Bar on November 16 with bands playing and the fund-raising total will be announced.

People wishing to follow the pair’s progress or donate can log on to the Facebook event Losing “lbs” to raise “£’s” or visit the Marr’s Bar on Wednesday evenings.

For more information about the charity log on to thestrattonabcfoundation.com.