Meet the Arriva bus driver who has turned life around after losing 7 1/2 stone in 9 months

Brian Horwood, from Sutton Heath, weighed 22 stone last summer as a result of having a lifestyle with a diet of fatty foods and no exercise.

But one day in July 2018 Brian decided he needed to get fit and healthy.

Dad-of-one Brian, 46, said: "I just got up in the morning and thought it's time for a change.

"My mum died early on at the age of 46 when she had complications after a heart bypass so I thought I better start looking after myself.

"I was overweight and had a bad diet for 10 years

"I have changed my diet to eating healthy with fish, chicken, salad and fruit from Monday to Saturdays and then eating a takeaway on Sunday.

"I got no exercise before; I was sat down eight or nine hours a day at work driving and I was a coach potato at home

" But I signed up for the gym and started going three times a week.

"I am now down to 14-and-a-half stone and need to lose another stone-and-a-half to reach my target weight of 13 stone."

Brian wearing his bus driver uniform

After making huge strides with his fitness, Brian, who has been a bus driver for Arriva for 25 years and carries passengers across St Helens, decided to help a cause close to his heart.

He will be cycling 130 miles in a sponsored bike ride from his home to Cumbria on August 16 in aid of Broadgreen Hospital in Liverpool.

The hospital looked after Brian's mum Pat Horwood - a "lovely, very outgoing and bubbly person" - before she died 25 years ago.

Brian will be staying in Kendal on the first night before staying with his friends in Workington, Mike and Gill Fisher, the following night.

He will then head back home on August 18 by car.

Brian and his partner Nikki

Brian with his friend Andy Kennedy

"I felt myself getting fitter and I decided to something for the hospital," Brian added.

"The hospital was great with my mum, they could not do enough for her when she was there for three months."

With date of the sponsored bike ride approaching, Brian is confident he has what it takes to complete it.

He said: "I feel great and more energetic - 100 per cent better than before I lost weight.

"People have said my weight loss has made look younger and it has given me more confidence to keep going.

"Training for the event has been going really well and I am ready for the challenge."

Brian is also supported by his partner Nikki Marston, 43.

To donate to Brian's crowdfunding page click here.