LIFE has been transformed for a Keighley dad who by his own admission was "in a very dark place" a year ago.

Gulf War veteran Colin Storton had ballooned to over 31 stones and his mental and physical health had deteriorated.

At his darkest moment, he even felt unable to continue.

Now the 45-year-old ex-RAF serviceman has shed more than nine stones and is swimming two-and-a-half miles every week at Keighley Leisure Centre.

And he has a completely new wardrobe of clothes.

"I could not believe the weight I had reached last year and felt totally ashamed," said Colin.

"I went through a bad mental health breakdown.

"One morning I was sat at the kitchen table and said to my wife 'I need help'.

"I'd reached a very dark place and realised I needed to do something."

His mother-in-law attended Weight Watchers and in August last year, he went for the first time to a session – led by Denise Walker – at Keighley Salvation Army.

"It was difficult at the beginning," said Colin, who is married to Diane and has two sons, Nathan, 17, and Aaron, 13.

"I had to completely change my diet, but once you get into the right mindset it becomes second nature.

"And with Weight Watchers you can still eat most things.

"I'm now so much more healthy.

"Before I started I couldn't walk 600 yards without feeling out of breath.

"Now my mental health is fine, I'm off tablets for blood pressure and the benefits generally are tremendous.

"Finding clothes has become a lot easier. I can now buy jeans straight from the rack, and I've gone from a 5XL shirt to size three or two.

"The drawback is I've had to spend a fortune on buying new things!"

Colin, now a human resources manager, was a personnel officer in the RAF.

He spent nine years with the air force, serving in the Gulf War between 1990-91.

"I had always been a big chap but I was very fit – I played football and was extremely active generally," he said.

"I thought I could just carry on eating and drinking what I wanted, but the weight crept on.

"One of my regrets is that it took me to reach the level I did last year before I decided to do anything about it.

"I honestly believe that if I hadn't have acted, I probably wouldn't be here now."

Colin's target was to lose ten stones by this October, when the family is jetting off for a holiday in Orlando to celebrate Nathan's 18th birthday.

But following the success of the past year, he has upped the target to 11 stones.

"I've still got some way to go – my eventual aim is to get down to about 17 stones – but I feel 200 per cent better than I did a year ago and I hope that helps encourage others in a similar position,"

he said.

"Weight Watchers is fantastic – it's like a big family – and Denise's enthusiasm is a breath of fresh air. She's always so positive."