A taxi driver who admits he has spent far too long "sitting on his backside" is appealing for sponsors as he loses weight for charity.

Rob Ellingford had ballooned to about 24st at his heaviest last year, and hopes to get down to a healthy 14st.

The 49-year-old, who runs Avon Cars in Bradley Stoke with his wife Catherine, is raising money for Cancer Research UK and the Alzheimer's Society.

He has already received £320 of donations but wants to raise lots more.

He said: "From early on I've always been a big lad. But with the lorry driving I was doing, and now taxi driving, I was always sat on my backside, eating the wrong kind of food. I lost my mother Thelma 10 years ago and my dad Bill three years ago to cancer and I got very depressed and ate more and more.

"As much as the doctors keep saying exercise, exercise, with the jobs I've done it's been hard."

After trying "umpteen" diets, Rob, of Fern Grove, was close to having to go on insulin, his diabetes was getting so bad.

He had a gastric band fitted at Southmead Hospital in November, but even before it has been tightened to restrict the size of his stomach he has lost 3.5st by combining smaller, healthier food portions and increasing his exercise.

Rob now weighs 19st 6lb and has reduced the amount of medication he has been taking for his diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol. He and wife of 13 years Catherine are soon starting a fitness regime at Bradley Stoke leisure centre too.

The GWR FM Bristol's Best Taxi Driver of 2007 added: "I'm setting my goals now and as I've seen the rewards it's given me a new lease of life. I'm a lot happier and a lot more confident. The good thing is I've been able to get into clothes I haven't been able to wear for years.

"If I had started trying to look after myself when I was younger I wouldn't have got to where I am. But it's so easy to sit there in life and let the abuse of your body take over."

Proud Catherine said: "It's like having a new husband. He's got more energy and he's got his great sense of humour back."

● To sponsor Mr Ellingford, call 01454 625050 or visit www.avon-cars.co.uk. Alternatively, you can sponsor him by setting up a bank transfer to be paid to Avon Cars' charity account, sort code: 30-62-32, account number: 23591968.