A Swindon man has shed a third of his bodyweight in just 18 months – despite scoffing doughnuts in the gym with his personal trainer.

At 30 stone Paul Smith weighed more than a top of the range motorbike. Not coming from a sporty family, he had long given up on getting a trim figure.

Paul was aware of growing problems with his weight. His executive job at Oxford-based medical supplies firm Owen Mumford meant spending long hours in the car. And he found himself struggling to get around on a work trip to the United States.

But a turning point came almost two years ago when family friends asked Paul to become godfather to their first child.

Paul, 44, said: “Something subconsciously kicked into my mind. I thought, if I’m going to be godfather to a baby I need to be prepared to play a full role and do all the fun things.

“I was hugely overweight and I knew it. I woke up one morning and had a huge craving to go swimming.”

He joined the Spirit Health Club at the Holiday Inn on Marlborough Road, where a receptionist talked Paul into trying out the gym.

Initially sceptical, Paul took to it like a duck to water – following a programme set by personal trainer Aaron Cushion.

Friends and family sponsored him to shed the pounds, with Paul raising around £1,000 for charity Diabetes UK last year.

18 months on from his first visit to the gym, Paul has lost 10 and a half stone – more than a third of his original bodyweight.

“I’ve quickly become addicted to the gym. I’ll probably go in most days. Now, when I see old pictures of myself it’s like it’s a different person. I’m much more mobile and confident than I was.”

Paul, who lives in Castle Dore, Freshbrook, has been forced to splurge on new clothes.

He said: “My waist has dropped around 10 or 12 inches since I started. I’m on the fifth size of suits for work.

“I’m now finding that I’m going shopping and instead of having no choice or having to go online, I’m having to stop myself from buying things.”

Personal trainer Aaron has become a good friend. When Paul jetted to Washington for a work trip last month the 27-year-old trainer even texted his gym bunny pal to ask if he was working out.

Aaron, who has worked as a personal trainer since 2013, said: “Most of Paul’s success comes down to just doing the work and not relying on shortcuts to get there.”

Paul says he can eat what he likes, but keeps a log of his meals. Aaron and Paul bring in boxes of doughnuts to share in front of astonished gym-goers.

Now fitness-mad, Paul’s goal is to lose even more weight. He expects to hit his 15 stone target later this year.

He said: “If I can do it, anyone can.”