Richard Newman has more energy to play with his grandchildren after swapping the Custard Creams for home-made meals to drop three stones.

The 67-year-old retired insurance agent from Pinedhurst used to think nothing about polishing off a whole packet of biscuits, but after joining Swindon Council’s weight management programme, Dietbusters, he has reined in his sweet tooth, shifted the pounds and increased his activity levels.

“I’m on the right track now and my wife Carrie is really supportive,” he said. “It also means I’ve got more energy to run around after my grandchildren, who we look after twice a week.

“Dietbusters was the wake-up call I really needed and I’m determined to keep making progress. I feel so much fitter and better in myself, so would highly recommend it.

“I’ve stopped snacking on things like biscuits and avoid junk food. It’s great because as I’ve lost some pounds, I’ve also become more mobile again.

“I’m walking more and I’ve actually started using my exercise bike.

“I used to like a daily glass of whisky, but I’ve made it less frequent and my measures aren’t so generous.

“All these little details add up and you really do notice the positive change.”

The former sportsman’s weight crept up to 25 stones over the years, as he gave up the sports he used to play, including golf, cricket and football.

He said: “I stopped playing squash at 54, then golf at 60, so I had slipped into a sedentary lifestyle without changing my diet.

“I used to devour a whole packet of Custard Creams in one sitting, then burn it all off, but your ability to do that changes as you get older.

“It was probably never a good idea in the first place, although being active makes all the difference.”

But when Richard signed up to Dietbusters – a council-run scheme free for those who meet certain criteria – he learned about healthy eating, calorie content, portion control and hidden sugars.

“It’s not about stopping eating, but making smart choices and cutting down on the bad stuff,” he said. “It’s not rocket science and if you stick at it the results will come.

“Dietbusters really opened my eyes to lots of things about food and exercise.

“I’ve got into healthy habits, doing some exercises before breakfast, which might be muesli with fruit. Then lunch and dinner is lean meat with plenty of vegetables, all cooked freshly from scratch.”

Dietbusters features a weekly exercise class and practical tips and guidance about food and drink.

Eligibility criteria includes being obese, having type 2 diabetes or being eligible for free prescriptions. Alternatively it is possible to pay £42 for the 12-week programme.

Brian Mattock, Swindon Council cabinet member for health and adult social care, said: “Now the Christmas and New Year celebrations are over, people often embark on diets in January in the hope of tackling the effects of festive over-indulgence.

“Dietbusters is a fantastic programme, which is proven to help you lose weight through making realistic and sustainable changes to your lifestyle.

“It’s definitely worth considering if you want to learn and experience with others ways of improving your diet and taking exercise for the long-term. We get lots of positive feedback about it so I would encourage anyone to give it a try.”

Find out more about Dietbusters by asking your GP or going online at www.swindon.gov.uk/dietbusters