A wife is dieting in a bid to lose three and a half stone in nine months – so she can donate a kidney and save her husbands life.

Father-of-three Andy Lamb, 40 is kept alive by weekly dialysis. He is on an emergency donation waiting list, but his wife’s kidney is judged the perfect match.

However, doctors say Samantha needs to lose weight to survive the operation. Patients with a higher body mass index run more of a risk from complications. She must cut her BMI from 42.8 to below 35.

Samantha, of Ivybridge, Devon, who has also joined a gym said: “I’ve got the chance to save my husband. I will do anything to save him, the kids need their dad and I need a husband.

“I’m 36, that is far too young to be a widow.”

Andy said: “If this happens she’ll have given me the gift of life.”

This story was first posted by Express newspapers.