THE Barnet Youth Orchestra (BYO) conductor has less weighing on his mind - and his scales - than he did five months ago.

Dai Lewis, 48, lost three stone to raise funds for a BYO trip to Lake Garda, Italy.

After fears the trip might not go ahead owing to a cash shortage, the 40-strong group has now made it to Italy, thanks to Mr Lewis' efforts.

His final weigh-in was last Thursday, when the scales confirmed his weight had gone from 24 st, five lb to 21 st, two lb.

With the hopes of 41 children riding on his weight-loss, Mr Lewis completely dedicated himself to the task.

He said: "It was tough, but I managed it by cutting out rubbish - no booze, no crisps, no chocolate, no cakes. Though I think I might lapse a bit in Italy with all the lovely ice-cream."

Mr Lewis said the idea formed after the orchestra, which travels abroad every three to four years, failed to get the funding it needed for the trip.

Then in February, he realised he could kill two birds with one stone by shedding and raising pounds at the same time.

On Monday, the amount raised stood at £800, but Mr Lewis hopes to top £1,000 once all the money has come in.

When he started, his weight was literally off the scales. To inform people of his progress, he kept a blog and on February 28, he wrote: "Have you ever wished you were in the top five per cent of anything? Well, I've made a top five per cent group - the group of people who have to wind their weighing scales back one or two stone to register a weight that one can actually read."

The most embarrassing moment, he said, was when a veterinary surgeon offered to lend him some scales that she used to weigh horses.

"Luckily, it never got to the point when I needed them, and hopefully it never will," he said.

The orchestra will be staying in Busselengo, in the Lake Garda region of Italy, and will perform concerts in in Bussolengo and Sirmione, near Verona; and Caldiero, near Venice.

Their repetoire includes work by Vaughan Williams, Albinoni, Benjamin Britten, Beethoven, Bizet and Tchaikovsky.

Children interested in auditioning for the orchestra should call 020 8359 6310.