Retired nurse Jane Ball was horrified when she discovered the only way to fit into her uniform was to sew two together.

Now - four years on and seven stones lighter - Mrs Ball, 51, has described how a super-size nurse's uniform instigated her battle to lose weight.

Mrs Ball used to accompany sick adults and children to Lourdes, in France, on a pilgrimage every year, but when she went to collect her uniform, she could not even get into the largest size.

She said: "When I tried it on, it didn't fit. I got very upset with it all and cried all the way home.

"I got in touch with a dressmaker friend and she said if I could get two uniforms she could make two into one and I ended up with this massive uniform that looked like a marquee.

"So that was it. I thought this is ridiculous, I have to do something about this'."

Following the birth of her three children, she weighed 21 stones and took a dress size 28.

She said: "I have always been overweight - I remember my mum had difficulty buying my school uniform. I had three children, and with each one I put weight on, kept it on and probably added more as well.

"At first I lost about three stones on my own and I was finding it difficult. I stay with my daughter in Haworth four days a week to look after the grandchildren and I started going to the Weight Watchers class in Oxenhope. Since January I have lost four stones."

Mrs Ball started to slim by eating salad, vegetables and fruit, but quickly got bored of her diet.

However after joining Weight Watchers she now cooks food from its special cookbook.

She also exercises at the gym for three hours a week and tries to walk to as many destinations as possible.

Mrs Ball, now a size 16 and still losing weight, says she feels brilliant and no longer cares what people think of her.

She said: "It is great going into normal clothes shops and buying normal clothes. I have a new lease of life and like to run around after my grandchildren.

"All this time I have kept that nurse's uniform. I put it on for my husband and he just could not believe it. He said: I know you've lost weight but my goodness!' The difference is unbelievable."