A couple who lost more than 14 stone (196 pounds) between them look so different that their own families have had trouble recognising them.

Jo Hughes, 28, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, saw her weight tip the scales at 20st 1lb (281lb) in October 2014 while her partner Dave Swingewood, 33, weighed 14st 11lb (207lb).

But after the full-time mum decided to overhaul her diet by ditching takeaways and fast food she lost an incredible 9st 2lb - and inspired her other half to tackle his unhealthy eating habits so that he shed four and a half stone.

Jo Hughes, 28, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, lost nearly half her body weight. Her partner Dave Swingewood, 33, was inspired by Jo's newly healthy habits to lose four and a half stone

Jo was shocked to discover she weighed 20 stone at her first slimming club session (left); she soon inspired Dave, a sheet metal worker, who is now a slim 10st 4lb after shedding four and a half stone.

Jo, who has dropped from a size 24 to a 12, said: 'I have always been quite big, but I had no idea I weighed 20 stone. I had a shock when I stepped on the scales at the first meeting.

'I sold my car so I didn't have the option of sneaking into it. I could get to most places by walking, and it was often quicker to walk anyway as I wouldn't get stuck in traffic.

She found that her change in cooking habits had an effect on her partner, saying: 'Dave also started to lose some weight because I do most of the cooking. The healthier meals I was preparing meant we ended up losing 15 stone between us.

'People do a double take now, they are shocked when they see us. I hadn't seen my uncle for a few years and he didn't even recognise me at first.'

Dave kept an eye on his weight loss by weighing himself at Boots every Monday morning.

He said: 'I began to embrace the diet because of the foods Jo was preparing. I asked Jo for advice and started going to the gym but was short on time, so I began walking too.

Jo went from weight 20st 1lb, pictured left, to weighing just 10st 13lb, pictured right

Jo lost the weight by attending Slimming World meetings and selling her car, so that she was forced to walk everywhere. She also ditched unhealthy foods in place of salads and fruits

Jo prepared salads and vegetables for them to eat, which helped her to lose half her body weight.

The full-time mum, who has four children, Lewis, six, twins Lexi Jo and Lian and one-year-old Zac, kept photos of herself when she was larger in a drawer for inspiration.

Dave felt that losing weight has had a positive effect on their lives. He said: 'I feel like we can both do more with the kids like going to the park and I just feel a lot fitter.'

Jo agrees, saying: 'I did it entirely for myself. I wasn't thin when I met Dave so he wasn't bothered about what I looked like.

Dave says that losing weight has helped him to take care of his and Jo's children better, as he is able to take them to the park and walk with them more

'I did it more for the kids. I treated it more like a lifestyle change than a diet, that's why I stuck at it. I had it permanently stuck in my head that I wanted to lose eight stone.

'Then when I reached that last year, I set a target of nine stone. I was surprised by how much I lost over Christmas.

'I didn't put pressure on myself. But I did keep pictures of the heavier me in drawers at home as motivation, which worked really well when I was flagging.

Jo looked at the diet as more of a lifestyle change, as it ensured that she stuck with it. She kept a photo of herself at a larger size in a drawer for inspiration

'I feel a lot healthier and happier in myself now and I can do a lot more with the kids, we go to the park a lot more and walk everywhere.'

Slimming World consultant Louise Bentley, who mentored Jo, said: 'Their success speaks for itself.

'Jo has even won a few competitions including Greatest Loser in our group in March and Woman of the Year last year.

'She has also just lowered her target weight by another half a stone. It has made such a difference to her life.'