Bradford's slimmed-down Council went public yesterday as ten dieting councillors stepped on the scales to reveal how much weight they

had shed.

Ten of the 13 members who had signed up for the Council-led get fit programme had lost a hefty 33lbs between them following their first public weigh-in.

The challenge began in January when, all together, the 13 councillors weighed in at more than a ton.

But progress is now being made, and there was cross-party support as the Conservative, Labour, Lib-Dem and Green Party councillors climbed on

to the scales again at the Richard Dunn Centre.

Councillor Clive Richardson (Con, Thornton and Allerton) has been setting the pace by losing an incredible 17lbs in just over a month.

He said eating well is now second nature: "I was diagnosed with a minor heart condition earlier this year and was told to lose weight. I am now about a third of the way there, but I started before everyone else on the challenge.

"I eat salad four times a week, fresh vegetables the rest of the time and try to walk half an hour a day. But I am not dieting, I am just eating more healthily. I feel much better in myself and I have more energy."

Councillor Mike McCabe (Con, Thornton and Allerton) has been organising the programme to highlight the Council's work on tackling obesity in the district.

He praised Coun Richardson for setting an example through eating "lettuce leaves and cottage cheese", but added: "I couldn't face it, I've had black pudding for lunch but my diet is calorie controlled.

"Losing weight is a lot harder than people realise, it is a complete lifestyle change. The weakness we have here in Bradford is there are so many good takeaways and they are all open late. Maybe we need to challenge one to make a curry that is half the calories."

Each member is being offered expert advice on the best way to tailor their diet and provided with an exercise regime so each gets the maximum benefit without doing themselves any harm during the challenge.

Coun McCabe added: "I have been struggling with my weight for a number of years now and when I heard that the Council had managed to get funding for an obesity review group, I thought that would be an ideal opportunity for myself and colleagues from all parties to lead by example."

The Council's obesity review group meetings are open to the public and the next one meets at 1pm on Tuesday at City Hall.

The group is supported by the Regional Health Observatory, the Strategic Health Authority, the Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the district's four Primary Care Trusts.