Health bosses are trying to find the safest way of moving one of the UK's heaviest people more than 150 miles.

Former engineer Paul Mason, 48, needs to travel from his home in Ipswich, Suffolk, to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester for "life-saving" specialist treatment. He is thought to weigh around 70 stone.

According to the Ipswich Star, he has tried and failed many times to lose weight, and is now virtually immobile.

Surgery is the only remaining option to lose weight and save his life.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk Primary Care Trust said the man was classed as "super-obese" and a number of travel options were being considered - including an airlift.

She said he would probably be taken by road in a specialist ambulance in the next few weeks - although a final decision had not yet been taken.

The cost of the journey and the subsequent operation, which is said to be estimated at "tens of thousands of pounds", will be met by NHS Suffolk, which is required by law to seek treatment for Mr Mason.