IN Ron Bell’s own words he looks like "a freak".

He has been left with a 21-inch lump ballooning from his stomach.

But two years of agony for Ron, who lives in Anne Boleyn Close, Eastchurch, Sheppey, is set to end with major reconstructive surgery for the enormous hiatus hernia at Maidstone Hospital.

His suffering started with stomach ache which the retired 48-year-old former council building yard driver experienced in the summer of 2004.

He believes that complications following an appendectomy at another hospital are behind his present woes.

He said: "I can’t sleep at night because of it, I’ve put on six stones because I can’t get about and I have to got to a specialist shop in London to buy giant-sized clothing.

"I’m walking about like a freak."

Now he is scheduled to undergo a three-to-four hour operation conducted by a leading specialist in the field.

* SEE THIS WEEK'S SHEERNESS TIMES GUARDIAN FOR THE FULL STORY.