A FORMER Gorton bingo caller who made headlines after losing 30 stone in weight is now passing on his diet tips to fatties Down Under.

Four years ago Charlie Walduck strained the scales at 45 stone and in desperation a friend turned to TV doctor Chris Steele for help.

With guidance from the resident medic on This Morning, Charlie transformed himself into a svelte 13.5 stone in an incredible 20 months.

Now the inspirational 39-year-old, who worked at Gala Bingo on Hyde Road for 12 years, is sharing his slimming experience with struggling dieters in Australia after being invited south by the Mudgee Lifestyle and Weight Loss Centre in New South Wales for six months.

He has become a weight loss consultant and mentor to people whose weight is spoiling their lives, and despite occasional bouts of homesickness is really enjoying himself.

He said: "Four years ago I could not have travelled to the other side of the room and now I am on the other side of the world.

"The centre I am staying and working at is very exclusive and they only ever have three or four people staying at any one time. It is a fantastic place and a really luxury retreat.

"Being overweight can effect you in many ways - financially, socially and mentally - not to mention the physical side of it all. If telling my story and walking the streets of Mudgee can help just one person, it makes the eight-hour delay on the flight here worth it."

Shortly after losing his weight, Charlie - who had his own show on community radio station All FM before going to Australia - ran the London marathon. Since then he has completed the Great Manchester Run and Great North Run three years in succession and raised almost £13,500 for charity.

Plagued by low confidence and low self-esteem, Charlie reckons he probably weighed 50 stone at his heaviest. He regularly went swimming at Miles Platting pool as part of his weight loss regime.

Although it's been a challenge, Charlie has managed to keep the weight off.

He said: "I am not saying I am perfect because I have fallen off the wagon a couple of times. I am not superfit and good looking or anything special, I am just a normal guy trying to live my life the best I can.

"You always think of Australia as a sporty country and somewhere where everyone is fitness mad, but it's not. They have the same problems as us in the UK - crime, drugs, binge drinking and obesity."

And about a trip to McDonalds in Sydney he said: "I could see lots of overweight people and sadly overweight kids. Part of me wanted to go over, lift up my shirt and show them what remained of my life of excess - namely rolls and rolls of unsightly loose skin.

"I wanted to say don't do it, don't become like me."

Charlie's story and news of his Australia trip can be seen at www.slimmercharlie.com