A 64-year-old grandmother has ditched her mobility scooter after losing nearly 12 stone - more than half her previous body weight.

Kay O'Keefe swapped two McDonald’s for breakfast to cereal and melon after being nagged by her daughters and medical staff to shed the pounds.

The new slimline Kay is now able to play with her young grandchildren after dropping from a size 28-30 to 12-14 dress size.

Kay, who lives with second husband James in Hoo, said she had always been on the large size but, after having four children and going through a divorce, just got bigger.

This was compounded after the gran-of-seven was diagnosed with diabetes more than 20 years ago followed by arthritis and was forced to use a walking aid to get around.

She said: “I was in a terrible state. By now I was taking a cocktail of drugs in high doses to bring my sugar levels down.

"I couldn’t play with my grandchildren or take them to the park because I was stuck in a chair."

While in desperate need of hip replacement, she was unable to go undergo surgery because she was overweight.

After dropping six stone she had the operation and started to walk around small distances.

The Singleton Close resident said: “Looking after a family on very little money meant that my diet was not my priority and we ate food we could afford.

"We ate quick things like pie and chips.”

Kay started going to WW classes (formerly Weight Watchers) in Strood after persuasion from daughters Heather, 31, and Emma, 27.

She said: “I never thought it would work but after losing two stone quite quickly I thought I’d give it a go.”

Kay now shops healthily and carefully checking labels and controlling portions.

And she enjoys cooking fresh food from scratch. She is off her diabetic medication and says she now feels like “a proper grandma”.

Kay still goes to the slimming classes at the health centre in Gun Lane for a weekly weigh-in - and, ironically, to accompany one of her daughters who encouraged her to go in the first place.