STEVEN Jones is nearly half the man he was - but in a good way.

No longer does the Blackwood coach driver have to squeeze into his seat, or ask for bigger chairs at restaurants.

His weight has tumbled from 23stone 6lb to 12stone 13lb and with it came a place in Slimming World's Man of the Year competition.

Although he did not triumph, the 30-year-old is the real winner as he is no more the butt of jokes at work, is using his new found love of the gym to train as a fitness instructor and has met a girl.

Recalling his fat days, Mr Jones said: "The supervisor used to shake my hand as a joke and say 'thank you for cleaning steering wheels' as my belly was squeezed against it.

"I was getting too big to buy clothes and I couldn't fit in a seat in a Chinese restaurant one night, they had to give me a bigger one. It was embarrassing. I was really fat. I felt I had to stop being a big boy."

Mr Jones plucked up the courage to follow his mum Dorothy, 56 to Blackwood's Slimming World group in September 2011.

"There was only one guy in the class, I went and sat next to him. That put me at ease," he said.

Taking holidaymakers everywhere from Torquay to France, Edwards Coaches employee Mr Jones learned how to eat properly on the road, swapping greasy breakfasts and KFC for healthy alternatives.

Within a year he shed nearly half his weight and his new found confidence led to love too- as he met partner Jade Brittain, 23, on a night out.

"I feel totally brand new," he said.

July 7 saw Mr Jones abandon the coach as he travelled to Slimming World's Man of the Year competition in Derbyshire.

There he met Coronation Street star Samia Ghadie who complimented all finalists on their weight loss.

She said: "Steven doesn't only look fantastic since losing weight he's also improved his health and is feeling more confident, he must be such an inspiration to all of the other slimmers in his group."

Being ten stone 7lb lighter was not enough to take the crown, but for Mr Jones, the future looks bright.

In September, he may be leaving the steering wheel behind for good as he trains to be a fitness instructor.

And he hopes one day he can become a Slimming World consultant and tackle the stigma of men going to classes.

"They have the fear factor of going through the door. I hope to change that," he added.

Before

Breakfast- full english including black pudding

Lunch- KFC/ McDonalds/ Burger King

Dinner- Three course meals at hotels plus big desserts

After

Breakfast- porridge/ Weetabix with banana

Lunch- chicken and rice

Dinner- Slimming World curry/ jacket potato/ steak with fat trimmed off