Big Jack Taylor has shunned the prospect of a hot Christmas on the beach for a quiet time at home - again.

Larger-than-life Jack, pictured, was invited to spend Yuletide with his brother Billy in Australia, but Jack simply wants to enjoy the comforts of home.

The big-hearted heavyweight has not been more than a mile away from his home in Sedgwick Close, Manningham, for nearly 30 years.

Jack, 57, said: "I haven't seen Billy for a few years but he dropped me a line asking me to go and spend Christmas with him this year.

"He said that it is summer over there and they enjoy Christmas on the beach. It sounded nice but I think I am better off spending it here with friends."

He said Billy, who is 65, was his opposite.

"I'm 6ft 3ins and Billy is only 5ft 6ins. He doesn't look his age though."

Billy, a civil engineer, moved to Australia 23 years ago and lives in Sydney.

"He is not one for writing or phoning. He just usually turns up on the doorstep out of the blue," said Jack.

Billy read about Jack in the Australian papers.

"It's amazing to think that people are still reading about me in magazines. A friend has just come back from Greece and apparently there was a magazine article about me."

And the media attention has still not subsided.

"I have been in another documentary. I was contacted by a man who has made a programme about the UK's tallest man and he said he was now making a programme about the country's fattest man."

Jack has even had himself weighed and said he has a certificate to prove he's a massive 50 stones and 11lbs.

"I have put on weight. There's not many people who are happy when they put on weight but I am one of them!"

He is now looking forward to Christmas dinner in front of the television with an assortment of friends, neighbours and relatives.

"Christmas is a sad time for me. I miss my gran and my mum and my granddad.

"I was virtually brought up by my mother and I miss how she used to cook me up the most delicious meals."