AN Evesham man who weighs 28 stone is risking his marriage as well as his health because he is failing to shed the pounds.

Graeme Williams, aged 47, from Abbey Gardens has been threatened with divorce by his wife Rosemarie unless he loses weight. The former credit controller sufferers from heart and kidney problems, diabetes and thrombosis. He is also forced to wear an oxygen mask at night after being diagnosed with sleep apnoea, a condition brought on by his obesity.

The father of two said: "I don't want to lose my wife but I know she is serious about leaving me because otherwise she wouldn't have gone to the papers. But I've got to do it for myself too - my health is going downhill fast.

"We live in the middle of Evesham and I have to take the car to go into town. I enjoy my food but I enjoy the wrong types of food - it's almost like a fix and eating has become a habit, but one that has got to be broken somehow."

Rosemarie, aged 50, is also concerned about what effect her husband's weight is having on their two teenage daughters.

She said: "I'm frightened the girls will turn out like Graeme - the older one is already beginning to think like him. She finds it quite funny that we are even bothered about her weight."

Graeme has now agreed to go on a sponsored diet in aid of Evesham Sea Cadets, an organisation his wife is involved with.

The couple is also planning an appearance on chat show Trisha Goddard, which has promised to provide a personal trainer to help Graeme in his quest to lose weight.

Rosemarie added: "Even if Graeme can lose just a few stone it will really help him, but this is his last chance. He has got to start now and keep it up."