A 40-stone man who wants his stomach stapled says he is afraid he will die waiting for the operation.

Ian Sturgess, a 31-year-old former lorry driver from Knighton in Leicestershire, has been told he will have to wait at least another six months to find out if the operation can go ahead.

Mr Sturgess, who has a 70-inch waist, said his weight is making him ill.

He wants to lose half his body weight and says stomach stapling is the only answer.

I just want to be able to do simple things Ian Sturgess

"I feel I've tried all the diets, I've been prescribed pills and I've been to Slimming World, so it's the last option for me," he told BBC News.

The operation is risky as it will reduce his stomach to the size of a lemon.

"I could die before I even get to have the operation.

"It's just a ridiculous amount of time to wait."

He says he feels suicidal at times, cannot sleep, and can hardly walk.

Until five years ago, Mr Sturgess led a more active life as a courier.

But when he qualified as a lorry driver, his new career caused him to pile on the pounds, he said.

His new lifestyle involved a combination of sitting down for long periods of time and eating at traditional lorry driver cafes offering fast food and snacks.

He added: "I just want to be able to do simple things like walk around the shops, walk around the pubs or just basically get out and enjoy life instead of being nearly housebound."

Mr Sturgess says he cannot afford a private operation, which would cost up to �10,000.

As he is currently claiming sick benefits, he cannot imagine saving enough money to pay for the operation privately.

However, he has been told he will have to wait at least two months to see a dietician and a further four months for an appointment with psychologist before he could have surgery.