AN inspirational Cross Hills youngster has shed nearly half his body weight - losing more than 10 stone.

Alan Burns celebrated his 21st birthday this year with a holiday in America with his family.

But two years ago, he would have had difficulty fitting into a plane seat.

When he was 19, Alan weighed more than 20 stone and had a 46-inch waist after steadily piling on the pounds over his teenage years.

After several embarrassing incidents, including getting stuck in a tester chair for a ride at Alton Towers, the former South Craven School pupil decided enough was enough.

Alan, who works at the Spar shop in Cross Hills, said: "I used to get very depressed about my weight. I didn't really do much apart from going to watch the football. I used to try to do something but ended up giving up and becoming more frustrated, eating more junk and getting worse.

"So many embarrassing things happened to me which got me more frustrated, but in a way pushed me into doing something about it. One time I was on a college trip to Alton Towers and I wasn't able to fit on a ride. People were watching which was awful.

"I knew I was getting bigger - even some of my largest clothes were feeling too small and I did not want to go near the scales.

"Eventually I thought the only way I am ever going to gain confidence is to lose the weight.

"I started out by going on the internet and talking to people in chat rooms. I also went to the doctors to get weighed and even though I had lost a couple of stone before going, I weighed a shocking 19 stone. But I accepted it and decided to do something about it."

Alan started going to the gym three or four times a week. The exercise, coupled with his low fat diet of wholemeal bread, pasta, cereal and fruit proved to be a winner.

It took a year-and-a-half, but now Alan, at 6ft tall, is a svelte 11-and-a-half stone. And he has managed to maintain his weight for the past year.

He added: "Since the weight loss I have become a more confident person and am looking to get a job helping people with these problems.

"I have also started tae kwon do and may compete in tournaments in the near future. I also find that I am no longer scared to buy my own clothes. I am enjoying a healthier life."

Alan's mum Alison and step-dad Jim could not be more proud of him.

Alison joked: "He gives people who come into the Spar tips on how to lose weight! We are so proud of him, he has always been a determined character and he has done this by himself."