A super-slimming Santa Claus shed so much weight he thought he would get the sack.

Nigel Foss, 56, used to weigh 21.5st and had a 60-inch waist.

But a year ago he decided his stomach was putting his health at risk, so he dropped five-stone, losing 18 inches from around his middle.

He is now more likely to take a bite of the crunchy carrot left out for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer than a munch on a mince pie.

Mr Foss, who dresses as Father Christmas to support charities, said: “I started my diet in October last year which meant I had to miss out on all the goodies left out for Santa by the children last Christmas. Fewer mince pies, less cake and only the odd tipple.

“However, I've lost so much festive fat, I was worried that the kids wouldn't think I was the real thing any more, as everyone knows Santa is a rather jolly, round chap.”

But Mr Foss, who works for Southern Water in Chichester, has found a solution to the paunchy problem by using a large cushion to pad out his belly.

He said: "The cushion does a brilliant job and I'd much rather it was that padding me out than fat.”